Chimera botulinum toxin type E

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a toxin comprising a modified light chain of a botulinum toxin type E, wherein the modified light chain comprises amino acid sequence PFVNKQFN (SEQ ID NO: 120) at the N-terminus, and amino acid sequence xDxxxLL (SEQ ID NO: 111) at the C-terminus, wherein x is any amino acid.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation that claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/036,532, filed Jan. 14, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,691,983, a continuation-in-part application which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/757,077, filed Jan. 14, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,799, a continuation-in-part of application which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/163,106, filed Jun. 4, 2002 now abandoned, a continuation-in-part of application which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,346, filed Jul. 20, 2001 now abandoned; a continuation-in-part of application which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/620,840, filed Jul. 21, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,903,187. All prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to modified neurotoxins, particularly modified Clostridial neurotoxins, and use thereof to treat various conditions, including conditions that have been treated using naturally occurring botulinum toxins. For example, botulinum toxin type A has been used in the treatment of numerous conditions including pain, skeletal muscle conditions, smooth muscle conditions and glandular conditions. Botulinum toxins are also used for cosmetic purposes.

Numerous examples exist for treatment using botulinum toxin. For examples of treating pain see Aoki, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,915 and Aoki, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,215. For an example of treating a neuromuscular disorder, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,005, which suggests treating curvature of the juvenile spine, i.e., scoliosis, with an acetylcholine release inhibitor, preferably botulinum toxin A. For the treatment of strabismus with botulinum toxin type A, see Elston, J. S., et al., British Journal of Opthalmology, 1985, 69, 718-724 and 891-896. For the treatment of blepharospasm with botulinum toxin type A, see Adenis, J. P., et al., J. Fr. Opthalmol., 1990, 13 (5) at pages 259-264. For treating spasmodic and oromandibular dystonia torticollis, see Jankovic et al., Neurology, 1987, 37, 616-623. Spasmodic dysphonia has also been treated with botulinum toxin type A. See Blitzer et al., Ann. Otol. Rhino. Laryngol, 1985, 94, 591-594. Lingual dystonia was treated with botulinum toxin type A according to Brin et al., Adv. Neurol. (1987) 50, 599-608. Cohen et al., Neurology (1987) 37 (Suppl. 1), 123-4, discloses the treatment of writers cramp with botulinum toxin type A.

It would be beneficial to have botulinum toxins with enhanced biological persistence and/or enhanced biological activity.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a modified toxin comprising a modified light chain of a botulinum toxin type E, wherein the modified light chain comprises an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 120 (PFVNKQFN) at the N-terminus, and an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 112 (xExxxLL) at the C-terminus, wherein x is any amino acid.

DEFINITIONS

Before proceeding to describe the present invention, the following definitions are provided and apply herein.

“Heavy chain” means the heavy chain of a Clostridial neurotoxin. It has a molecular weight of about 100 kDa and can be referred to herein as Heavy chain or as H.

“H_(N)” means a fragment (having a molecular weight of about 50 kDa) derived from the Heavy chain of a Clostridial neurotoxin which is approximately equivalent to the amino terminal segment of the Heavy chain, or the portion corresponding to that fragment in the intact Heavy chain. It is believed to contain the portion of the natural or wild-type Clostridial neurotoxin involved in the translocation of the light chain across an intracellular endosomal membrane.

“H_(C)” means a fragment (about 50 kDa) derived from the Heavy chain of a Clostridial neurotoxin which is approximately equivalent to the carboxyl terminal segment of the Heavy chain, or the portion corresponding to that fragment in the intact Heavy chain. It is believed to be immunogenic and to contain the portion of the natural or wild-type Clostridial neurotoxin involved in high affinity binding to various neurons (including motor neurons), and other types of target cells.

“Light chain” means the light chain of a Clostridial neurotoxin. It has a molecular weight of about 50 kDa, and can be referred to as light chain, L or as the proteolytic domain (amino acid sequence) of a Clostridial neurotoxin. The light chain is believed to be effective as an inhibitor of exocytosis, including as an inhibitor of neurotransmitter (i.e. acetylcholine) release when the light chain is present in the cytoplasm of a target cell.

“Neurotoxin” means a molecule that is capable of interfering with the functions of a cell, including a neuron. The “neurotoxin” can be naturally occurring or man-made. The interfered with function can be exocytosis.

“Modified neurotoxin” (or “modified toxin”) means a neurotoxin which includes a structural modification. In other words, a “modified neurotoxin” is a neurotoxin which has been modified by a structural modification. The structural modification changes the biological persistence, such as the biological half-life (i.e. the duration of action of the neurotoxin) and/or the biological activity of the modified neurotoxin relative to the neurotoxin from which the modified neurotoxin is made or derived. The modified neurotoxin is structurally different from a naturally existing neurotoxin.

“Mutation” means a structural modification of a naturally occurring protein or nucleic acid sequence. For example, in the case of nucleic acid mutations, a mutation can be a deletion, addition or substitution of one or more nucleotides in the DNA sequence. In the case of a protein sequence mutation, the mutation can be a deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acids in a protein sequence. For example, a specific amino acid comprising a protein sequence can be substituted for another amino acid, for example, an amino acid selected from a group which includes the amino acids alanine, aspargine, cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, proline, glutamine, arginine, serine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine or any other natural or non-naturally occurring amino acid or chemically modified amino acids. Mutations to a protein sequence can be the result of mutations to DNA sequences that when transcribed, and the resulting mRNA translated, produce the mutated protein sequence. Mutations to a protein sequence can also be created by fusing a peptide sequence containing the desired mutation to a desired protein sequence.

“Structural modification” means any change to a neurotoxin that makes it physically or chemically different from an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification.

“Biological persistence” or “persistence” means the time duration of interference or influence caused by a neurotoxin or a modified neurotoxin with a cellular (such as a neuronal) function, including the temporal duration of an inhibition of exocytosis (such as exocytosis of neurotransmitter, for example, acetylcholine) from a cell, such as a neuron.

“Biological half-life” or “half-life” means the time that the concentration of a neurotoxin or a modified neurotoxin, preferably the active portion of the neurotoxin or modified neurotoxin, for example, the light chain of Clostridial toxins, is reduced to half of the original concentration in a mammalian cell, such as in a mammalian neuron.

“Biological activity” or “activity” means the amount of cellular exocytosis inhibited from a cell per unit of time, such as exocytosis of a neurotransmitter from a neuron.

“Target cell” means a cell (including a neuron) with a binding affinity for a neurotoxin or for a modified neurotoxin.

“PURE A” means a purified botulinum toxin type A, that is the 150 kDa toxin molecule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Comparison of the N-terminal sequence of LC/A (Allergan Hall A), LC/B, and LC/E. dN-LC/A shows the amino acids truncated in our N-terminus deletion mutant. SEQ IDS NOs for the N-terminal sequences are as follows: rLC/A is SEQ ID NO: 158, dN-LC/A is SEQ ID NO: 159, LC/B is SEQ ID NO: 160, LC/E is SEQ ID NO: 161 and the consensus sequence is SEQ ID NO: 162.

FIG. 2: Sequence comparison of the C-terminus of the Allergan Hall A LC/A with the C-terminus of different strains of LC/E. The box contains the di-leucine motif present on the LC/A. The sequence in that area is very well conserved in all the LC/Es and contains two Isoleucines instead of the Leucines. SEQ IDS NOs for the C-terminal sequences are as follows: BoNT/A (Hall A) is SEQ ID NO: 151, LCE (NTP genomic) is SEQ ID NO: 152, BoNT/E (Beluga) is SEQ ID NO: 153, BoNT/E (synth LC/E) is SEQ ID NO: 154, BoNT/E (NCTC-11219) is SEQ ID NO: 155 and the consensus sequence is SEQ ID NO: 156.

FIG. 3: LC/E chimeras generated by adding the localization signals of the LC/A into the LC/E. Constructs were generated by site-directed mutagenesis of the di-leucine motif SEQ ID NO: 163 at the C-terminus of the LC/E, and by the addition of SEQ ID NO: 120 from the LC/A to the N-terminus of the LC/E. wtLC/E includes the di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 163; LC/E (ExxxII) includes the di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 144; LC/E (ExxxLL) includes the di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 145; LC/E (NLCA) includes SEQ ID NO: 120 and di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 163; LC/E (NLCA/ExxxII) includes SEQ ID NO: 120 and di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 144; and LC/E (NLCA/ExxxLL) includes SEQ ID NO: 120 and di-leucine motif of SEQ ID NO: 145.

FIG. 4: Catalytic activity towards the cleavage of SNAP25 of the LC/E chimeras containing the localization signals from the LC/A and expressed in SH-SY5Y cells. Two separate transfections were performed and the western blot data from both experiments are shown in the figure. Blots were probed with antibody SMI-81 to the N-terminus of SNAP25.

FIG. 5: Plasmids encoding for the GFP-LC/E chimeras were transfected into PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells. Three separate experiments were performed. Experiment number one is the top panel, experiment number two is the middle panel, and experiment number three is the bottom panel. Cell lysates were prepared and subjected to immunoprecipitation (top gels in each panel) with an antibody to GFP to detect the expressed protein. Part of the lysate was used for western blots to detect catalytic activity (bottom gels in each panel) of the chimeras expressed in cells. Each lane is numbered according to the table shown in the first panel, and reads as follow: 1. GFP negative control, 2. Wt LC/E, 3. LC/E (NLCA), 4. LC/E (ExxxII), 5. LC/E (ExxxLL), 6. LC/E (NLCA/ExxxII), 7. LC/E (NLCA/ExxxLL).

FIG. 6: Taken from PNAS publication (1). Differentiated PC-12 cells expressing GFP-LC/A (A) and GFP-LC/E (B).

FIG. 7: Differentiated PC-12 cells transfected with GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL). Immunostained with antibodies to GFP, rabbit polyclonal at 1:100 (FIGS. 7A and 7C) and a combination of three Anti-SNAP₁₈₀ mouse monoclonal antibodies (1A3A7, 1G8C11 and 1C9F3), each at 1:50 dilution (FIGS. 7B and 7D). (63× magnification).

FIG. 8: Differentiated PC-12 cells transfected with GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL). Cells were immunostained with antibodies to GFP, mouse monoclonal at 1:100 (FIGS. 8A and 8C) and Anti-SNAP25₂₀₆ rabbit polyclonal antibody at 1:100 (FIGS. 8B and 8D). (63× magnification). Specific cells are indicated by an arrow and are designated a, b, c, d or e. Transfected cells do not contain SNAP25₂₀₆ that is only present in non-transfected cells.

FIG. 9: Differentiated PC-12 cells transfected with native beluga GFP-LC/E, and immunostained with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to GFP (FIG. 9A) and 1:1:1 combination of anti-SNAP25₁₈₀ mouse monoclonal antibodies, each at 1:50 dilution (FIG. 9B) (63× magnification) as used in the previous figure with the chimeric LC/E. Both images correspond to the same cell but are not from the same plane.

FIG. 10: SH-SY5Y cells transfected with GFP-LCE construct and stained with anti-GFP, rabbit polyclonal at a dilution of 1:100 and secondary anti-rabbit at 1:200. (63× magnification). A and B represent two different cells from the same transfection experiment.

FIG. 11: SH-SY5Y cells transfected with GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) and stained with anti-GFP antibodies. (63× magnification). A and B are different groups of cells from the same transfection experiment.

FIG. 12: SH-SY5Y cells transfected with GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL). Cells were immunostained with antibodies to anti-GFP (FIGS. 12A and 12C) and uncleaved SNAP25₂₀₆ (FIGS. 12B & 12D). (63× magnification).

FIG. 13: SH-SY5Y cells transfected with GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL). Cells were immunostained with antibodies to GFP (FIG. 13A) and 1A3A7 mouse monoclonal antibody specific for SNAP25₁₈₀ (FIG. 13B). (63× mag).

FIGS. 14-a & b: Sequence of wild-type Beluga LC/E. SEQ ID NO: 136 and SEQ ID NO: 137 correspond to the amino acid sequence and the nucleic acid sequence, respectively.

FIGS. 15-a & b: Sequence of chimera LC/E with N-terminus of LC/A. SEQ ID NO: 138 and SEQ ID NO: 139 correspond to the amino acid sequence and the nucleic acid sequence, respectively.

FIGS. 16-a & b: Sequence of chimera LC/E with LC/A di-leucine motif at C-terminus. SEQ ID NO: 140 and SEQ ID NO: 141 correspond to the amino acid sequence and the nucleic acid sequence, respectively.

FIGS. 17-a & b: Sequence of chimera LC/E with LC/A N-terminus and C-terminal di-leucine motif. SEQ ID NO: 142 and SEQ ID NO: 143 correspond to the amino acid sequence and the nucleic acid sequence, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is based upon the discovery that the biological persistence and/or the biological activity of a neurotoxin can be altered by structurally modifying the neurotoxin. In other words, a modified neurotoxin with an altered biological persistence and/or biological activity can be formed from a neurotoxin containing or including a structural modification. In some embodiments, the structural modification includes the fusing of a biological persistence enhancing component to the primary structure of a neurotoxin to enhance its biological persistence. In some embodiments, the biological persistence enhancing component is a leucine-based motif. Even more preferably, the biological half-life and/or the biological activity of the modified neurotoxin is enhanced by about 100%. Generally speaking, the modified neurotoxin has a biological persistence of about 20% to 300% more than an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification. That is, for example, the modified neurotoxin including the biological persistence enhancing component is able to cause a substantial inhibition of neurotransmitter release for example, acetylcholine from a nerve terminal for about 20% to about 300% longer than a neurotoxin that is not modified.

The present invention also includes within its scope a modified neurotoxin with a biological activity altered as compared to the biological activity of the native or unmodified neurotoxin. For example, the modified neurotoxin can exhibit a reduced or an enhanced inhibition of exocytosis (such as exocytosis of a neurotransmitter) from a target cell with or without any alteration in the biological persistence of the modified neurotoxin.

In a broad embodiment of the present invention, a leucine-based motif is a run of seven amino acids. The run is organized into two groups. The first five amino acids starting from the amino terminal of the leucine-based motif form a “quintet of amino acids.” The two amino acids immediately following the quintet of amino acids form a “duplet of amino acids.” In some embodiments, the duplet of amino acids is located at the carboxyl terminal region of the leucine-based motif. In some embodiments, the quintet of amino acids includes at least one acidic amino acid selected from a group consisting of a glutamate and an aspartate.

The duplet of amino acid includes at least one hydrophobic amino acid, for example leucine, isoleucine, methionine, alanine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine or tyrosine. Preferably, the duplet of amino acid is a leucine-leucine, a leucine-isoleucine, an isoleucine-leucine or an isoleucine-isoleucine, leucine-methionine. Even more preferably, the duplet is a leucine-leucine.

In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is xDxxxLL, (SEQ ID NO:111) wherein x can be any amino acids. In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is xExxxLL, (SEQ ID NO:112) wherein E is glutamic acid. In some embodiments, the duplet of amino acids can include an isoleucine or a methionine, forming xDxxxLI (SEQ ID NO:113) or xDxxxLM, (SEQ ID NO:114) respectively. Additionally, the aspartic acid, D, can be replaced by a glutamic acid, E, to form xExxxLI, (SEQ ID NO:115) xExxxIL (SEQ ID NO:116) and xExxxLM (SEQ ID NO:117). In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is phenylalanine-glutamate-phenylalanine-tyrosine-lysine-leucine-leucine, SEQ ID NO:118.

In some embodiments, the quintet of amino acids comprises at least one hydroxyl containing amino acid, for example, a serine, a threonine or a tyrosine. Preferably, the hydroxyl containing amino acid can be phosphorylated. More preferably, the hydroxyl containing amino acid is a serine which can be phosphorylated to allow for the binding of adapter proteins.

Although non-modified amino acids are provided as examples, a modified amino acid is also contemplated to be within the scope of this invention. For example, leucine-based motif can include a halogenated, preferably, fluorinated leucine.

Various leucine-based motif are found in various species. A list of possible leucine-based motif derived from the various species that can be used in accordance with this invention is shown in Table 1. This list is not intended to be limiting.

TABLE 1 Species Sequence SEQ ID NO: Botulinum type A FEFYKLL 1 Rat VMAT 1 EEKRAIL 2 Rat VMAT 2 EEKMAIL 3 Rat VAChT SERDVLL 4 Rat δ VDTQVLL 5 Mouse δ AEVQALL 6 Frog γ/δ SDKQNLL 7 Chicken γ/δ SDRQNLI 8 Sheep δ ADTQVLM 9 Human CD3γ SDKQTLL 10  Human CD4 SQIKRLL 11  Human δ ADTQALL 12  S. cerevisiae Vam3p NEQSPLL 13 

VMAT is vesicular monoamine transporter; VACht is vesicular acetylcholine transporter and S. cerevisiae Vam3p is a yeast homologue of synaptobrevin. Italicized serine residues are potential sites of phosphorylation.

The modified neurotoxin can be formed from any neurotoxin. Also, the modified neurotoxin can be formed from a fragment of a neurotoxin, for example, a botulinum toxin with a portion of the light chain and/or heavy chain removed. Preferably, the neurotoxin used is a Clostridial neurotoxin. A Clostridial neurotoxin comprises a polypeptide having three amino acid sequence regions. The first amino acid sequence region can include a target cell (i.e. a neuron) binding moiety which is substantially completely derived from a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of baratti toxin; butyricum toxin; tetanus toxin; botulinum type A, B, C₁, D, E, F, and G. Preferably, the first amino acid sequence region is derived from the carboxyl terminal region of a toxin heavy chain, H_(C). Also, the first amino acid sequence region can comprise a targeting moiety which can comprise a molecule (such as an amino acid sequence) that can bind to a receptor, such as a cell surface protein or other biological component on a target cell.

The second amino acid sequence region is effective to translocate the polypeptide or a part thereof across an endosome membrane into the cytoplasm of a neuron. In some embodiments, the second amino acid sequence region of the polypeptide comprises an amine terminal of a heavy chain, H_(N), derived from a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of baratti toxin; butyricum toxin; tetanus toxin; botulinum type A, B, C₁, D, E, F, and G.

The third amino acid sequence region has therapeutic activity when it is released into the cytoplasm of a target cell, such as a neuron. In some embodiments, the third amino acid sequence region of the polypeptide comprises a toxin light chain, L, derived from a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of baratti toxin; butyricum toxin; tetanus toxin; botulinum type A, B, C₁, D, E, F, and G.

The Clostridial neurotoxin can be a hybrid neurotoxin. For example, each of the neurotoxin's amino acid sequence regions can be derived from a different Clostridial neurotoxin serotype. For example, in one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises a first amino acid sequence region derived from the H_(C) of the tetanus toxin, a second amino acid sequence region derived from the H_(N) of botulinum type B, and a third amino acid sequence region derived from the light chain of botulinum serotype E. All other possible combinations are included within the scope of the present invention.

Alternatively, all three of the amino acid sequence regions of the Clostridial neurotoxin can be from the same species and same serotype. If all three amino acid sequence regions of the neurotoxin are from the same Clostridial neurotoxin species and serotype, the neurotoxin will be referred to by the species and serotype name. For example, a neurotoxin polypeptide can have its first, second and third amino acid sequence regions derived from Botulinum type E. In which case, the neurotoxin is referred as Botulinum type E.

Additionally, each of the three amino acid sequence regions can be modified from the naturally occurring sequence from which they are derived. For example, the amino acid sequence region can have at least one or more amino acids added or deleted as compared to the naturally occurring sequence.

A biological persistence enhancing component or a biological activity enhancing component, for example a leucine-based motif, can be fused with any of the above described neurotoxins to form a modified neurotoxin with an enhanced biological persistence and/or an enhanced biological activity. “Fusing” as used in the context of this invention includes covalently adding to or covalently inserting in between a primary structure of a neurotoxin. For example, a biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component can be added to a Clostridial neurotoxin which does not have a leucine-based motif in its primary structure. In some embodiments, a leucine-based motif is fused with a hybrid neurotoxin, wherein the third amino acid sequence is derived from botulinum serotype A, B, C₁, C₂, D, E, F, or G. In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is fused with a botulinum type E.

In some embodiments, a biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component is added to a neurotoxin by altering a cloned DNA sequence encoding the neurotoxin. For example, a DNA sequence encoding a biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component is added to a cloned DNA sequence encoding the neurotoxin into which the biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component is to be added. This can be done in a number of ways which are familiar to a molecular biologist of ordinary skill. For example, site directed mutagenesis or PCR cloning can be used to produce the desired change to the neurotoxin encoding DNA sequence. The DNA sequence can then be reintroduced into a native host strain. In the case of botulinum toxins the native host strain would be a Clostridium botulinum strain. Preferably, this host strain will be lacking the native botulinum toxin gene. In an alternative method, the altered DNA can be introduced into a heterologous host system such as E. coli or other prokaryotes, yeast, insect cell lines or mammalian cell lines. Once the altered DNA has been introduced into its host, the recombinant toxin containing the added biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component can be produced by, for example, standard fermentation methodologies.

Similarly, a biological persistence enhancing component can be removed from a neurotoxin. For example, site directed mutagenesis can be used to eliminate biological persistence enhancing components, for example, a leucine-based motif.

Standard molecular biology techniques that can be used to accomplish these and other genetic manipulations are found in Sambrook et al. (1989) which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is fused with, or added to, the third amino acid sequence region of the neurotoxin. In some embodiments, the leucine-based motif is fused with, or added to, the region towards the carboxylic terminal of the third amino acid sequence region. More preferably, the leucine-based motif is fused with, or added to, the carboxylic terminal of the third region of a neurotoxin. Even more preferably, the leucine-based motif is fused with, or added to the carboxylic terminal of the third region of botulinum type E. The third amino acid sequence to which the leucine-based motif is fused or added can be a component of a hybrid or chimeric modified neurotoxin. For example, the leucine-based motif can be fused to or added to the third amino acid sequence region (or a part thereof) of one botulinum toxin type (i.e. a botulinum toxin type A), where the leucine-based motif-third amino acid sequence region has itself been fused to or conjugated to first and second amino acid sequence regions from another type (or types) of a botulinum toxin (such as botulinum toxin type B and/or E).

In some embodiments, a structural modification of a neurotoxin which has a pre-existing biological persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component, for example, a leucine-based motif includes deleting or substituting one or more amino acids of the leucine-based motif. In addition, a modified neurotoxin includes a structural modification which results in a neurotoxin with one or more amino acids deleted or substituted in the leucine-based motif. The removal or substitution of one or more amino acids from the preexisting leucine-based motif is effective to reduce the biological persistence and/or a biological activity of a modified neurotoxin. For example, the deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids of the leucine-based motif of botulinum type A reduces the biological half-life and/or the biological activity of the modified neurotoxin.

Amino acids that can be substituted for amino acids contained in a biological persistence enhancing component include alanine, aspargine, cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, proline, glutamine, arginine, serine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine and other naturally occurring amino acids as well as non-standard amino acids.

In the present invention the native botulinum type A light chain has been shown to localize to differentiated PC12 cell membranes in a characteristic pattern. Biological persistence enhancing components are shown to substantially contribute to this localization.

The data of the present invention demonstrates that when the botulinum toxin type A light chain is truncated or when the leucine-based motif is mutated, the light chain substantially loses its ability to localize to the membrane in its characteristic pattern. Localization to the cellular membrane is believed to be a key factor in determining the biological persistence and/or the biological activity of a botulinum toxin. This is because localization to a cell membrane can protect the localized protein from intracellular protein degradation.

The deletion of the leucine-based motif from the light chain of botulinum type A can change membrane localization of the type A light chain. GFP fusion proteins were produced and visualized in differentiated PC12 cells using methods well known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in Galli et al (1998) Mol Biol Cell 9:1437-1448, incorporated in its entirety herein by reference; also, for example, as described in Martinez-Arca et al (2000) J Cell Biol 149:889-899, also incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Further studies have been done in the present invention to analyze the effect of specific amino acid substitutions within the leucine-based motif. For example, in one study both leucine residues contained in the leucine-based motif were substituted for alanine residues. The substitution of alanine for leucine at positions 427 and 428 in the botulinum type A light chain substantially changes the localization characteristic of the light chain.

It is within the scope of this invention that a leucine-based motif, or any other persistence enhancing component and/or a biological activity enhancing component present on a light chain, can be used to protect the heavy chain as well. A random coil belt extends from the botulinum type A translocation domain and encircles the light chain. It is possible that this belt keeps the two subunits in proximity to each other inside the cell while the light chain is localized to the cell membrane.

In addition, the data of the present invention shows that the leucine-based motif can be valuable in localizing the botulinum A toxin in close proximity to the SNAP-25 substrate within the cell. This can mean that the leucine-based motif is important not only for determining the half-life of the toxin but for determining the activity of the toxin as well. That is, the toxin will have a greater activity if it is maintained in close proximity to the SNAP-25 substrate inside the cell. Dong et al., PNAS, 101(41): 14701-14706, 2004.

The data of the present invention clearly shows that truncation of the light chain, thereby deleting the leucine-based motif, or amino acid substitution within the leucine-based motif substantially changes membrane localization of the botulinum type A light chain in nerve cells. In both truncation and substitution a percentage of the altered light chain can localize to the cell membrane in a pattern unlike that of the native type A light chain. This data supports the presence of biological persistence enhancing components other than a leucine-based motif such as tyrosine motifs and amino acid derivatives. Use of these other biological persistence enhancing components and/or a biological activity enhancing components in modified neurotoxins is also within the scope of the present invention.

Also within the scope of the present invention is more than one biological persistence enhancing component used in combination in a modified neurotoxin to alter biological persistence of the neurotoxin that is modified. The present invention also includes use of more than one biological activity enhancing or biological activity reducing components used in combination in a modified neurotoxin to alter the biological activity of the neurotoxin that is modified.

Tyrosine-based motifs are within the scope of the present invention as biological persistence and/or a biological activity altering components. Tyrosine-based motifs comprise the sequence Y-X-X-Hy (SEQ ID NO:119) where Y is tyrosine, X is any amino acid and Hy is a hydrophobic amino acid. Tyrosine-based motifs can act in a manner that is similar to that of leucine-based motifs.

Also within the scope of the present invention are modified neurotoxins which comprise one or more biological persistence altering components and/or a biological activity enhancing components which occur naturally in both botulinum toxin types A and B.

Amino acid derivatives are also within the scope of the present invention as biological persistence enhancing components and/or as biological activity enhancing components. Examples of amino acid derivatives that act to effect biological persistence and/or biological activity are phosphorylated amino acids. These amino acids include, for example, amino acids phosphorylated by tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C or casein kinase II. Other amino acid derivatives within the scope of the present invention as biological persistence enhancing components and/or as biological activity enhancing components are myristylated amino acids and N-glycosylated amino acids.

The present invention also contemplates compositions which include a botulinum light chain component interacting with a cellular structure component, for example, an intracellular structure component. The structure component may include lipid, carbohydrate, protein or nucleic acid or any combination thereof.

The structure component may include a cell membrane, for example, a plasma membrane. In certain embodiments, the structure component comprises all or part of one or more organelles, for example, the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes or secretory vesicles or combinations thereof. The structure component may include any portion of an organelle, for example, the membrane of an organelle. The structure component may also include any substance which is included in the cytoplasm of a cell.

The structure component may include one or more proteins. In some embodiments, the structure component includes one or more cellular proteins. One or more of these cellular proteins may be membrane associated proteins, for example, plasma membrane associated proteins. In some embodiments of the invention, the structure component includes adaptor proteins. Examples of adaptor proteins are AP-1, AP-2 and AP-3. Adaptor proteins and their characteristics are well known in the art and are discussed in, for example, Darsow et al., J. Cell Bio., 142, 913 (1998) which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. The one or more proteins may also include the substrate which is cleaved by the proteolytic domain of a botulinum toxin light chain component. For example, a protein included in the structure component may be SNAP-25.

The interaction between the light chain of botulinum type A and the structure component may contribute to localization of the toxin in a certain pattern. Therefore, the interaction may act to facilitate proteolysis by, for example, increasing the biological persistence and/or biological activity of the light chain.

A botulinum toxin heavy chain or portion thereof may also be associated with the light chain component when the light chain is interacting with the structure component.

In some embodiments, a botulinum toxin light chain component, when interacting with the structure component in a cell, may localize in the cell in a particular pattern. For example, localization of a botulinum toxin type A light chain component may be in a punctuate or spotted pattern. For example, a botulinum type A light chain component may be localized in a punctuate pattern on a cell membrane, for example, a plasma membrane. Botulinum type B light chain may localize in the cytoplasm. Botulinum type E may localize to the plasma membrane but to a lesser degree than type A. Botulinum type E may also localize in the cytoplasm.

Methodologies to produce an isolated composition of the invention are available to those skilled in the art. For example, a composition may be isolated by isolating the plasma membrane from a cell after introduction of a light chain component, for example, light chain A, into a cell. The light chain may be introduced into the cell by, for example, electroporation or by endocytosis. In the case of introduction into the cell by endocytosis, a heavy chain component may be included with the light chain component to facilitate the endocytosis, for example, receptor mediated endocytosis, of the light chain. In such preparation process, the heavy chain component may also be isolated and be included in the composition.

After introduction into the cell, the light chain component associates or interacts with the substrate component forming a composition. The composition may be isolated by purification of the light chain component-structure component from the cell. Standard purification techniques known to those skilled in the art may be used to isolate a membrane and/or membrane associated protein(s) which is included in the structure component which interacts with the light chain component. Examples of conventional techniques for isolation and purification of the light chain component/structure component include immunoprecipitation and/or membrane purification techniques.

The light chain component may be crosslinked to a portion of the structure component before isolation. The technical procedures for cross linking of biomolecules using agents such as DTBP are well known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, a composition of the invention may be prepared by mixing together a purified or a partially purified light chain component and a purified or a partially purified intracellular structure component under conditions which are effective to form the composition. Conditions important in forming the composition may include Ph, ionic concentration and temperature.

The botulinum toxin light chain component of a composition, may be a modified botulinum toxin light chain. Modifications may be mutations and/or deletions as described elsewhere herein.

A modified light chain component may include a light chain A modified to remove a leucine based motif or other structure(s) which contributes to localization of the type A light chain to the plasma membrane thereby resulting in a light chain with a reduced ability to localize to a plasma membrane. This may result in a reduction in the biological activity and/or biological persistence of the light chain A. The biological persistence and/or activity of the modified light chain may be about 10% to about 90% that of an unmodified type A light chain.

Another modified light chain component may include a light chain A modified by adding one or more leucine based motifs, or other structure(s) which contributes to localization of the type A light chain to the plasma membrane, thereby resulting in a light chain with an increased ability to localize to a plasma membrane. This may result in an increase in the biological activity and/or biological persistence of the light chain A. The biological persistence and/or activity of the modified light chain may be about 1.5 to about 5 times that of an unmodified type A light chain.

A modified light chain component may include a light chain E modified by adding one or more leucine based motifs, or other structure(s) which contribute to localization of the type A light chain to the plasma membrane, thereby resulting in a light chain with an increased ability to localize to a plasma membrane. This may result in an increase in the biological activity and/or biological persistence of the light chain E. The biological persistence and/or activity of the modified light chain may be about 2 to about 20 times that of an unmodified type E light chain.

Compositions of the invention have many uses and applications, for example, in research science and medicine. Other uses and applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In one broad aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for treating a condition using a modified neurotoxin. The conditions can include, for example, skeletal muscle conditions, smooth muscle conditions, pain and glandular conditions. The modified neurotoxin can also be used for cosmetics, for example, to treat brow furrows.

The neuromuscular disorders and conditions that can be treated with a modified neurotoxin include: for example, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngeal dystonia, oromandibular and lingual dystonia, cervical dystonia, focal hand dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus, hemifacial spasm, eyelid disorders, spasmodic torticolis, cerebral palsy, focal spasticity and other voice disorders, spasmodic colitis, neurogenic bladder, anismus, limb spasticity, tics, tremors, bruxism, anal fissure, achalasia, dysphagia and other muscle tone disorders and other disorders characterized by involuntary movements of muscle groups can be treated using the present methods of administration. Other examples of conditions that can be treated using the present methods and compositions are lacrimation, hyperhydrosis, excessive salivation and excessive gastrointestinal secretions, as well as other secretory disorders. In addition, the present invention can be used to treat dermatological conditions, for example, reduction of brow furrows, reduction of skin wrinkles. The present invention can also be used in the treatment of sports injuries.

Borodic U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,005 discloses methods for treating juvenile spinal curvature, i.e. scoliosis, using botulinum type A. The disclosure of Borodic is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. In some embodiments, using substantially similar methods as disclosed by Borodic, a modified neurotoxin can be administered to a mammal, preferably a human, to treat spinal curvature. In some embodiments, a modified neurotoxin comprising botulinum type E fused with a leucine-based motif is administered. Even more preferably, a modified neurotoxin comprising botulinum type A-E with a leucine-based motif fused to the carboxyl terminal of its light chain is administered to the mammal, preferably a human, to treat spinal curvature.

In addition, the modified neurotoxin can be administered to treat other neuromuscular disorders using well known techniques that are commonly performed with botulinum type A. For example, the present invention can be used to treat pain, for example, headache pain, pain from muscle spasms and various forms of inflammatory pain. For example, Aoki U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,215 and Aoki U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,915 disclose methods of using botulinum toxin type A for treating pain. The disclosure of these two patents is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Autonomic nervous system disorders can also be treated with a modified neurotoxin. For example, glandular malfunctioning is an autonomic nervous system disorder. Glandular malfunctioning includes excessive sweating and excessive salivation. Respiratory malfunctioning is another example of an autonomic nervous system disorder. Respiratory malfunctioning includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Sanders et al. disclose methods for treating the autonomic nervous system; for example, treating autonomic nervous system disorders such as excessive sweating, excessive salivation, asthma, etc., using naturally existing botulinum toxins. The disclosure of Sander et al. is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. In some embodiments, substantially similar methods to that of Sanders et al. can be employed, but using a modified neurotoxin, to treat autonomic nervous system disorders such as the ones discussed above. For example, a modified neurotoxin can be locally applied to the nasal cavity of the mammal in an amount sufficient to degenerate cholinergic neurons of the autonomic nervous system that control the mucous secretion in the nasal cavity.

Pain that can be treated by a modified neurotoxin includes pain caused by muscle tension, or spasm, or pain that is not associated with muscle spasm. For example, Binder in U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,468 discloses that headache caused by vascular disturbances, muscular tension, neuralgia and neuropathy can be treated with a naturally occurring botulinum toxin, for example Botulinum type A. The disclosures of Binder are incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. In some embodiments, substantially similar methods to that of Binder can be employed, but using a modified neurotoxin, to treat headache, especially the ones caused by vascular disturbances, muscular tension, neuralgia and neuropathy. Pain caused by muscle spasm can also be treated by an administration of a modified neurotoxin. For example, a botulinum type E fused with a leucine-based motif, preferably at the carboxyl terminal of the botulinum type E light chain, can be administered intramuscularly at the pain/spasm location to alleviate pain.

Furthermore, a modified neurotoxin can be administered to a mammal to treat pain that is not associated with a muscular disorder, such as spasm. In one broad embodiment, methods of the present invention to treat non-spasm related pain include central administration or peripheral administration of the modified neurotoxin.

For example, Foster et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,545 discloses that a botulinum toxin conjugated with a targeting moiety can be administered centrally (intrathecally) to alleviate pain. The disclosures of Foster et al. are incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. In some embodiments, substantially similar methods to that of Foster et al. can be employed, but using the modified neurotoxin according to this invention, to treat pain. The pain to be treated can be an acute pain, or preferably, chronic pain.

An acute or chronic pain that is not associated with a muscle spasm can also be alleviated with a local, peripheral administration of the modified neurotoxin to an actual or a perceived pain location on the mammal. In some embodiments, the modified neurotoxin is administered subcutaneously at or near the location of pain, for example, at or near a cut. In some embodiments, the modified neurotoxin is administered intramuscularly at or near the location of pain, for example, at or near a bruise location on the mammal. In some embodiments, the modified neurotoxin is injected directly into a joint of a mammal, for treating or alleviating pain caused by arthritic conditions. Also, frequent repeated injection or infusion of the modified neurotoxin to a peripheral pain location is within the scope of the present invention. However, given the long lasting therapeutic effects of the present invention, frequent injection or infusion of the neurotoxin can not be necessary. For example, practice of the present invention can provide an analgesic effect, per injection, for 2 months or longer, for example 27 months, in humans.

Without wishing to limit the invention to any mechanism or theory of operation, it is believed that when the modified neurotoxin is administered locally to a peripheral location, it inhibits the release of Neuro-substances, for example substance P, from the peripheral primary sensory terminal by inhibiting SNARE-dependent exocytosis. Since the release of substance P by the peripheral primary sensory terminal can cause or at least amplify pain transmission process, inhibition of its release at the peripheral primary sensory terminal will dampen the transmission of pain signals from reaching the brain.

The amount of the modified neurotoxin administered can vary widely according to the particular disorder being treated, its severity and other various patient variables including size, weight, age, and responsiveness to therapy. Generally, the dose of modified neurotoxin to be administered will vary with the age, presenting condition and weight of the mammal, preferably a human, to be treated. The potency of the modified neurotoxin will also be considered.

Assuming a potency (for a botulinum toxin type A) which is substantially equivalent to LD₅₀=2,730 U in a human patient and an average person is 75 kg, a lethal dose (for a botulinum toxin type A) would be about 36 U/kg of a modified neurotoxin. Therefore, when a modified neurotoxin with such an LD₅₀ is administered, it would be appropriate to administer less than 36 U/kg of the modified neurotoxin into human subjects. Preferably, about 0.01 U/kg to 30 U/kg of the modified neurotoxin is administered. More preferably, about 1 U/kg to about 15 U/kg of the modified neurotoxin is administered. Even more preferably, about 5 U/kg to about 10 U/kg modified neurotoxin is administered. Generally, the modified neurotoxin will be administered as a composition at a dosage that is proportionally equivalent to about 2.5 cc/100 U. Those of ordinary skill in the art will know, or can readily ascertain, how to adjust these dosages for neurotoxin of greater or lesser potency. It is known that botulinum toxin type B can be administered at a level about fifty times higher that that used for a botulinum toxin type A for similar therapeutic effect. Thus, the units amounts set forth above can be multiplied by a factor of about fifty for a botulinum toxin type B.

Although examples of routes of administration and dosages are provided, the appropriate route of administration and dosage are generally determined on a case by case basis by the attending physician. Such determinations are routine to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (1998), edited by Anthony Fauci et al., 14^(th) edition, published by McGraw Hill). For example, the route and dosage for administration of a modified neurotoxin according to the present disclosed invention can be selected based upon criteria such as the solubility characteristics of the modified neurotoxin chosen as well as the types of disorder being treated.

The modified neurotoxin can be produced by chemically linking the leucine-based motif to a neurotoxin using conventional chemical methods well known in the art. For example, botulinum type E can be obtained by establishing and growing cultures of Clostridium botulinum in a fermenter, and then harvesting and purifying the fermented mixture in accordance with known procedures.

The modified neurotoxin can also be produced by recombinant techniques. Recombinant techniques are preferable for producing a neurotoxin having amino acid sequence regions from different Clostridial species or having modified amino acid sequence regions. Also, the recombinant technique is preferable in producing botulinum type A with the leucine-based motif being modified by deletion. The technique includes steps of obtaining genetic materials from natural sources, or synthetic sources, which have codes for a cellular binding moiety, an amino acid sequence effective to translocate the neurotoxin or a part thereof, and an amino acid sequence having therapeutic activity when released into a cytoplasm of a target cell, preferably a neuron. In some embodiments, the genetic materials have codes for the biological persistence enhancing component, preferably the leucine-based motif, the H_(C), the H_(N) and the light chain of the Clostridial neurotoxins and fragments thereof. The genetic constructs are incorporated into host cells for amplification by first fusing the genetic constructs with a cloning vectors, such as phages or plasmids. Then the cloning vectors are inserted into a host, for example, Clostridium sp., E. coli or other prokaryotes, yeast, insect cell line or mammalian cell lines. Following the expressions of the recombinant genes in host cells, the resultant proteins can be isolated using conventional techniques.

There are many advantages to producing these modified neurotoxins recombinantly. For example, to form a modified neurotoxin, a modifying fragment, or component must be attached or inserted into a neurotoxin. The production of neurotoxin from anaerobic Clostridium cultures is a cumbersome and time-consuming process including a multi-step purification protocol involving several protein precipitation steps and either prolonged and repeated crystallization of the toxin or several stages of column chromatography. Significantly, the high toxicity of the product dictates that the procedure must be performed under strict containment (BL-3). During the fermentation process, the folded single-chain neurotoxins are activated by endogenous Clostridial proteases through a process termed nicking to create a dichain. Sometimes, the process of nicking involves the removal of approximately 10 amino acid residues from the single-chain to create the dichain form in which the two chains remain covalently linked through the intrachain disulfide bond.

The nicked neurotoxin is much more active than the unnicked form. The amount and precise location of nicking varies with the serotypes of the bacteria producing the toxin. The differences in single-chain neurotoxin activation and, hence, the yield of nicked toxin, are due to variations in the serotype and amounts of proteolytic activity produced by a given strain. For example, greater than 99% of Clostridial botulinum serotype A single-chain neurotoxin is activated by the Hall A Clostridial botulinum strain, whereas serotype B and E strains produce toxins with lower amounts of activation (0 to 75% depending upon the fermentation time). Thus, the high toxicity of the mature neurotoxin plays a major part in the commercial manufacture of neurotoxins as therapeutic agents.

The degree of activation of engineered Clostridial toxins is, therefore, an important consideration for manufacture of these materials. It would be a major advantage if neurotoxins such as botulinum toxin and tetanus toxin could be expressed, recombinantly, in high yield in rapidly-growing bacteria (such as heterologous E. coli cells) as relatively non-toxic single-chains (or single chains having reduced toxic activity) which are safe, easy to isolate and simple to convert to the fully-active form.

With safety being a prime concern, previous work has concentrated on the expression in E. coli and purification of individual H and light chains of tetanus and botulinum toxins; these isolated chains are, by themselves, non-toxic; see Li et al., Biochemistry 33:7014-7020 (1994); Zhou et al., Biochemistry 34:15175-15181 (1995), hereby incorporated by reference herein. Following the separate production of these peptide chains and under strictly controlled conditions the H and light chains can be combined by oxidative disulphide linkage to form the neuroparalytic di-chains.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples provide those of ordinary skill in the art with specific suitable methods to treat non-spasm related pain within the scope of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1 Treatment of Pain Associated with Muscle Disorder

An unfortunate 36 year old woman has a 15 year history of temporomandibular joint disease and chronic pain along the masseter and temporalis muscles. Fifteen years prior to evaluation she noted increased immobility of the jaw associated with pain and jaw opening and closing and tenderness along each side of her face. The left side is originally thought to be worse than the right. She is diagnosed as having temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction with subluxation of the joint and is treated with surgical orthoplasty meniscusectomy and condyle resection.

She continues to have difficulty with opening and closing her jaw after the surgical procedures and for this reason, several years later, a surgical procedure to replace prosthetic joints on both sides is performed. After the surgical procedure progressive spasms and deviation of the jaw ensues. Further surgical revision is performed subsequent to the original operation to correct prosthetic joint loosening. The jaw continues to exhibit considerable pain and immobility after these surgical procedures. The TMJ remained tender as well as the muscle itself. There are tender points over the temporomandibular joint as well as increased tone in the entire muscle. She is diagnosed as having post-surgical myofascial pain syndrome and is injected with the modified neurotoxin into the masseter and temporalis muscles; the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type E comprising a leucine-based motif. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administrations depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician.

Several days after the injections she noted substantial improvement in her pain and reports that her jaw feels looser. This gradually improves over a 2 to 3 week period in which she notes increased ability to open the jaw and diminishing pain. The patient states that the pain is better than at any time in the last 4 years. The improved condition persists for up to 27 months after the original injection of the modified neurotoxin.

Example 2 Treatment of Pain Subsequent to Spinal Cord Injury

A patient, age 39, experiencing pain subsequent to spinal cord injury is treated by intrathecal administration, for example, by spinal tap or by catherization (for infusion) to the spinal cord, with the modified neurotoxin; the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type E comprising a leucine-based motif. The particular toxin dose and site of injection, as well as the frequency of toxin administrations, depend upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician, as previously set forth. Within about 1 to about 7 days after the modified neurotoxin administration, the patient's pain is substantially reduced. The pain alleviation persists for up to 27 months.

Example 3 Peripheral Administration of a Modified Neurotoxin to Treat “Shoulder-Hand Syndrome”

Pain in the shoulder, arm, and hand can develop, with muscular dystrophy, osteoporosis and fixation of joints. While most common after coronary insufficiency, this syndrome can occur with cervical osteoarthritis or localized shoulder disease, or after any prolonged illness that requires the patient to remain in bed.

A 46 year old woman presents a shoulder-hand syndrome type pain. The pain is particularly localized at the deltoid region. The patient is treated by a bolus injection of a modified neurotoxin subcutaneously to the shoulder; preferably the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type E comprising a leucine-based motif. The modified neurotoxin can also be, for example, modified botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F or G which comprise a leucine-based motif. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administrations depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician, as previously set forth. Within 1-7 days after modified neurotoxin administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 7 to about 27 months.

Example 4 Peripheral Administration of a Modified Neurotoxin to Treat Postherapeutic Neuralgia

Postherapeutic neuralgia is one of the most intractable of chronic pain problems. Patients suffering this excruciatingly painful process often are elderly, have debilitating disease, and are not suitable for major interventional procedures. The diagnosis is readily made by the appearance of the healed lesions of herpes and by the patient's history. The pain is intense and emotionally distressing. Postherapeutic neuralgia can occur anywhere, but is most often in the thorax.

A 76 year old man presents a postherapeutic type pain. The pain is localized to the abdomen region. The patient is treated by a bolus injection of a modified neurotoxin intradermally to the abdomen; the modified neurotoxin is, for example, botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F and/or G. The modified neurotoxin comprises a leucine-based motif and/or additional tyrosine-based motifs. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administration depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician, as previously set forth. Within 1-7 days after modified neurotoxin administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 7 to about 27 months.

Example 5 Peripheral Administration of a Modified Neurotoxin to Treat Nasopharyngeal Tumor Pain

These tumors, most often squamous cell carcinomas, are usually in the fossa of Rosenmuller and can invade the base of the skull. Pain in the face is common. It is constant, dull-aching in nature.

A 35 year old man presents a nasopharyngeal tumor type pain. Pain is found at the lower left cheek. The patient is treated by a bolus injection of a modified neurotoxin intramuscularly to the cheek, preferably the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F or G comprising additional biological persistence enhancing amino acid derivatives, for example, tyrosine phosphorylations. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administrations depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician. Within 1-7 days after modified neurotoxin administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 7 to about 27 months.

Example 6 Peripheral Administration of a Modified Neurotoxin to Treat Inflammatory Pain

A patient, age 45, presents an inflammatory pain in the chest region. The patient is treated by a bolus injection of a modified neurotoxin intramuscularly to the chest, preferably the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F or G comprising additional tyrosine-based motifs. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administrations depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician, as previously set forth. Within 1-7 days after modified neurotoxin administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 7 to about 27 months.

Example 7 Treatment of Excessive Sweating

A male, age 65, with excessive unilateral sweating is treated by administering a modified neurotoxin. The dose and frequency of administration depends upon degree of desired effect. Preferably, the modified neurotoxin is botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F and/or G. The modified neurotoxins comprise a leucine-based motif. The administration is to the gland nerve plexus, ganglion, spinal cord or central nervous system. The specific site of administration is to be determined by the physician's knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the target glands and secretory cells. In addition, the appropriate spinal cord level or brain area can be injected with the toxin. The cessation of excessive sweating after the modified neurotoxin treatment is up to 27 months.

Example 8 Post Surgical Treatments

A female, age 22, presents a torn shoulder tendon and undergoes orthopedic surgery to repair the tendon. After the surgery, the patient is administered intramuscularly with a modified neurotoxin to the shoulder. The modified neurotoxin can botulinum type A, B, C, D, E, F, and/or G wherein one or more amino acids of a biological persistence enhancing component are deleted from the toxin. For example, one or more leucine residues can be deleted from and/or mutated from the leucine-based motif in botulinum toxin serotype A. Alternatively, one or more amino acids of the leucine-based motif can be substituted for other amino acids. For example, the two leucines in the leucine-based motif can be substituted for alanines. The particular dose as well as the frequency of administrations depends upon a variety of factors within the skill of the treating physician. The specific site of administration is to be determined by the physician's knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the muscles. The administered modified neurotoxin reduces movement of the arm to facilitate the recovery from the surgery. The effect of the modified neurotoxin is for about five weeks or less.

Example 9 Cloning, Expression and Purification of the Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain Gene

This example describes methods to clone and express a DNA nucleotide sequence encoding a botulinum toxin light chain and purify the resulting protein product. A DNA sequence encoding the botulinum toxin light chain can be amplified by PCR protocols which employ synthetic oligonucleotides having sequences corresponding to the 5′ and 3′ end regions of the light chain gene. Design of the primers can allow for the introduction of restriction sites, for example, Stu I and EcoR I restriction sites into the 5′ and 3′ ends of the botulinum toxin light chain gene PCR product. These restriction sites can be subsequently used to facilitate unidirectional subcloning of the amplification products. Additionally, these primers can introduce a stop codon at the C-terminus of the light chain coding sequence. Chromosomal DNA from C. botulinum, for example, strain HaIIA, can serve as a template in the amplification reaction.

The PCR amplification can be performed in a 0.1 mL volume containing 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3), 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.2 mM of each deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP), 50 pmol of each primer, 200 ng of genomic DNA and 2.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase. The reaction mixture can be subjected to 35 cycles of denaturation (1 minute at 94° C.), annealing (2 minutes at 55° C.) and polymerization (2 minutes at 72° C.). Finally, the reaction can be extended for an additional 5 minutes at 72° C.

The PCR amplification product can be digested with for example, Stu I and EcoR I, to release the light chain encoding, cloned, PCR DNA fragment. This fragment can then be purified by, for example, agarose gel electrophoresis, and ligated into, for example, a Sma I and EcoR I digested pBluescript II SK phagemid. Bacterial transformants, for example, E. coli, harboring this recombinant phagemid can be identified by standard procedures, such as blue/white screening. Clones comprising the light chain encoding DNA can be identified by DNA sequence analysis performed by standard methods. The cloned sequences can be confirmed by comparing the cloned sequences to published sequences for botulinum light chains, for example, Binz, et al., in J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9153 (1990), Thompson et al., in Eur. J. Biochem. 189, 73 (1990) and Minton, Clostridial Neurotoxins, The Molecular Pathogenesis of Tetanus and Botulism p. 161-191, Edited by C. Motecucco (1995).

The light chain can be subcloned into an expression vector, for example, pMaI-P2. pMaI-P2 harbors the maIE gene encoding MBP (maltose binding protein) which is controlled by a strongly inducible promoter, P_(tac).

To verify expression of the botulinum toxin light chain, a well isolated bacterial colony harboring the light chain gene containing pMaI-P2 can be used to inoculate L-broth containing 0.1 mg/ml ampicillin and 2% (w/v) glucose, and grown overnight with shaking at 30° C. The overnight cultures can be diluted 1:10 into fresh L-broth containing 0.1 mg/ml of ampicillin and incubated for 2 hours. Fusion protein expression can be induced by addition of IPTG to a final concentration of 0.1 mM. After an additional 4 hour incubation at 30° C., bacteria can be collected by centrifugation at 6,000×g for 10 minutes.

A small-scale SDS-PAGE analysis can confirm the presence of a 90 kDa protein band in samples derived from IPTG-induced bacteria. This MW would be consistent with the predicted size of a fusion protein having MBP (˜40 kDa) and botulinum toxin light chain (˜50 kDa) components.

The presence of the desired fusion proteins in IPTG-induced bacterial extracts can be confirmed by western blotting using the polyclonal anti-L chain probe described by Cenci di Bello et al., in Eur. J. Biochem. 219, 161 (1993). Reactive bands on PVDF membranes (Pharmacia; Milton Keynes, UK) can be visualized using an anti-rabbit immunoglobulin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (BioRad; Hemel Hempstead, UK) and the ECL detection system (Amersham, UK). Western blotting results typically confirm the presence of the dominant fusion protein together with several faint bands corresponding to proteins of lower MW than the fully sized fusion protein. This observation suggests that limited degradation of the fusion protein occurred in the bacteria or during the isolation procedure.

To produce the subcloned light chain, pellets from 1 liter cultures of bacteria expressing the wild-type Botulinum neurotoxin light chain proteins can be resuspended in column buffer [10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 200 mM NaCl, 1 mM EGTA and 1 mM DTT] containing 1 mM phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and 10 mM benzamidine, and lysed by sonication. The lysates can be cleared by centrifugation at 15,000×g for 15 minutes at 4° C. Supernatants can be applied to an amylose affinity column [2×10 cm, 30 ml resin] (New England BioLabs; Hitchin, UK). Unbound proteins can be washed from the resin with column buffer until the eluate is free of protein as judged by a stable absorbance reading at 280 nm. The bound MBP-L chain fusion protein can be subsequently eluted with column buffer containing 10 mM maltose. Fractions containing the fusion protein can be pooled and dialyzed against 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) supplemented with 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM, CaCl₂ and 1 mM DTT for 72 hours at 4° C.

The MBP-L chain fusion proteins can be purified after release from the host bacteria. Release from the bacteria can be accomplished by enzymatically degrading or mechanically disrupting the bacterial cell membrane. Amylose affinity chromatography can be used for purification. Recombinant wild-type or mutant light chains can be separated from the sugar binding domains of the fusion proteins by site-specific cleavage with Factor Xa. This cleavage procedure typically yields free MBP, free light chains and a small amount of uncleaved fusion protein. While the resulting light chains present in such mixtures can be shown to possess the desired activities, an additional purification step can be employed. For example, the mixture of cleavage products can be applied to a second amylose affinity column which binds both the MBP and uncleaved fusion protein. Free light chains can be isolated in the flow through fraction.

Example 10 Reconstitution of Native Light Chain, Recombinant Wild-Type Light Chain with Purified Heavy Chain

Native heavy and light chains can be dissociated from a BoNT with 2 M urea, reduced with 100 mM DTT and then purified according to established chromatographic procedures. For example, Kozaki et al. (1981, Japan J. Med. Sci. Biol. 34, 61) and Maisey et al. (1988, Eur. J. Biochem. 177, 683). A purified heavy chain can be combined with an equimolar amount of either native light chain or a recombinant light chain. Reconstitution can be carried out by dialyzing the samples against a buffer consisting of 25 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 50 μM zinc acetate and 150 mM NaCl over 4 days at 4° C. Following dialysis, the association of the recombinant light chain and native heavy chain to form disulfide linked 150 kDa dichains is monitored by SDS-PAGE and/or quantified by densitometric scanning.

Example 11 Production of a Modified Neurotoxin with an Enhanced Biological Persistence

A modified neurotoxin can be produced by employing recombinant techniques in conjunction with conventional chemical techniques.

A neurotoxin chain, for example a botulinum light chain that is to be fused with a biological persistence enhancing component to form a modified neurotoxin can be produced recombinantly and purified as described in example 9.

The recombinant neurotoxin chain derived from the recombinant techniques can be covalently fused with (or coupled to) a biological persistence enhancing component, for example a leucine-based motif, a tyrosine-based motif and/or an amino acid derivative. Peptide sequences comprising biological persistence enhancing components can be synthesized by standard t-Boc/Fmoc technologies in solution or solid phase as is known to those skilled in the art. Similar synthesis techniques are also covered by the scope of this invention, for example, methodologies employed in Milton et al. (1992, Biochemistry 31, 8799-8809) and Swain et al. (1993, Peptide Research 6, 147-154). One or more synthesized biological persistence enhancing components can be fused to the light chain of botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F or G at, for example, the carboxyl terminal end of the toxin. The fusion of the biological persistence enhancing components is achieved by chemical coupling using reagents and techniques known to those skilled in the art, for example PDPH/EDAC and Traut's reagent chemistry.

Alternatively, a modified neurotoxin can be produced recombinantly without the step of fusing the biological persistence enhancing component to a recombinant botulinum toxin chain. For example, a recombinant neurotoxin chain, for example, a botulinum light chain, derived from the recombinant techniques of example 9 can be produced with a biological persistence enhancing component, for example a leucine-based motif, a tyrosine-based motif and/or an amino acid derivative. For example, one or more DNA sequences encoding biological persistence enhancing components can be added to the DNA sequence encoding the light chain of botulinum type A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F or G. This addition can be done by any number of methods used for site directed mutagenesis which are familiar to those skilled in the art.

The recombinant modified light chain containing the fused or added biological persistence enhancing component can be reconstituted with a heavy chain of a neurotoxin by the method described in example 10 thereby producing a complete modified neurotoxin.

The modified neurotoxins produced according to this example have an enhanced biological persistence. Preferably, the biological persistence is enhanced by about 20% to about 300% relative to an identical neurotoxin without the additional biological persistence enhancing component(s).

Example 12

The first 30 residues of the amino-terminus (N-term) and the last 50 residues of the carboxyl-terminal (C-term) of the amino acid sequences of botulinum toxin serotypes A through G light chains (LC) are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 SEQ SEQ N-term  ID C-term (last ID Toxin (AAs 1-30) of LC NO: 50 AAs) of LC  NO: BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNG 14 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQN 15 VDIAYIKIPNAGQM TEINNMNFTKLKNFTGL FEFYKLLCVRGIITSK BoNT/B MPVTINNFNYNDPIDN 16 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGKE 17 DNIIMMEPPFARGT YRGQNKAINKQAYEEIS KEHLAVYKIQMCKSVK BoNT/C₁ MPITINNFNYSDPVDN 18 NIPKSNLNVLFMGQNLS 19 KNILYLDTHLNTLA RNPALRKVNPENMLYLF TKFCHKAIDGRSLYNK BoNT/D MTWPVKDFNYSDPVND 20 YTIRDGFNLTNKGFNIE 21 NDILYLRIPQNKLI NSGQNIERNPALQKLSS ESVVDLFTKVCLRLTK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDPVNDR 22 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNAN 23 TILYIKPGGCQEFY LNPRIITPITGRGLVKK IIRFCKNIVSVKGIRK BoNT/F MPVAINSFNYNDPVND 24 TVSEGFNIGNLAVNNRG 25 DTILYMQIPYEEKS QSIKLNPKIIDSIPDKG LVEKIVKFCKSVIPRK BoNT/G MPVNIKNFNYNDPINN 26 QNEGFNIASKNLKTEFN 27 DDIIMMEPFNDPGP GQNKAVNKEAYEEISLE HLVIYRIAMCKPVMYK

Alterations in the amino acid sequence of these serotypes can include amino acid substitutions, mutations, deletions, or various combinations of these alterations. Such alterations can be engineered in the first thirty amino acids (AAs) in the N-terminus of the light chain and/or the last fifty AAs in the C-terminus of the light chain using recombinant DNA technological methods that are standard in the art.

For example, studies showed that a GFP-LCA construct with eight amino acid residues (PFVNKQFN) (SEQ ID NO:120) deleted from the N-terminus (no C-terminus deletion) localized in PC12 cells a very similar pattern to the localization in PC12 cells of a truncated GFP-LCA construct with both the C and N terminus deletions.

Further studies showed that a GFP-LCA construct with twenty two amino acid residues (KNFTG LFEFYKLLCV RGIITSK) (SEQ ID NO:121) deleted from the C-terminus (no N-terminus deletion) localized in PC12 cells in a very similar manner to that of the GFP-LCA(LL-->AA) mutant.

A GFP-LCA construct with both eight amino acid residues (PFVNKQFN; SEQ ID NO:120) deleted from the N-terminus and twenty two amino acid residues (KNFTG LFEFYKLLCV RGIITSK; SEQ ID NO:121) deleted from the C-terminus accumulated intracellularly.

Examples of amino acid sequence substitutions include the replacement of one or more contiguous or non-contiguous amino acids in the first 30 amino acids of the N-terminus and/or the last 50 amino acids of the C-terminus of the light chain with an equal number and placement of amino acids that differ from the wild-type sequence. Substitutions can be conservative or non-conservative of the character of the amino acid. For example, the amino acid valine at a specific position in the wild-type sequence can be replaced with an alanine in the same position in the substituted sequence. Furthermore, basic residues such as arginine or lysine can be substituted for highly hydrophobic residues such as tryptophan. A proline or histidine residue may be substituted in order to form or disrupt a potentially important structural or catalytic element of the protein. Some examples of amino acid substitutions are indicated by bold underlined text in the sequences described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 SEQ SEQ N-term ID C-term (last ID Toxin (AAs 1-30) of LC NO: 50 AAs) of LC NO: BoNT/A MPF A NKQFNYKDPVNG 28 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQN 29 VDIAYIKIPNAGQM TEINNMN R TKLKNFTGL FEFYKLLCVRGIITSK BoNT/A MPFVNKQFN K KDPVNG 30 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQN 31 VDIAYIKIPNAGQM TEINNMNFTKLKN AA GL FEFYKLLCVRGIITSK BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNG 32 GFNLRNTNLAAN H NGQN 33 VDIA R IKIPNAGQM TEINNMNFTKLKNFTGL FEFYKLLCVRGIITSK BoNT/A MPFVNK H FNYKDPVNG 34 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQN 35 VDIAYIKIPNAGQM TEINNMNFTKLKNFTGL FEFYKLLC A RGIITSK BoNT/B MP A TINNFNYNDPIDN 36 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGKE 37 DNIIMMEPPFARGT YRGQNKAINKQAYEEIS KEHLAVYKI R MCKSVK BoNT/B MPVTINNFNYNDPIDN 38 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGKE 39 DNII AA EPPFARGT YRGQNKAINKQAYEEIS KEHLAV R KIQMCKSVK BoNT/B MPVTINNFN R NDPIDN 40 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGKE 41 DNIIMMEPPFARGT YRGQNKAINKQA K EEIS KEHLAVYKIQMCKSVK BoNT/C₁ MPITINN K NYSDPVDN 42 NIPKSNLNVLFMGQNLS 43 KNILYLDTHLNTLA RNPALRKVNPENMLYLF TKFCHKAIDGRSL R NK BoNT/D MTWP A KDFNYSDP A ND 44 YTIRDGFNLTNKGFNIE 45 NDILYLRIPQNKLI NSGQNIERNPALQKLSS ESVVDLFTK A CLRLTK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDP A NDR 46 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNAN 47 TILYIKPGGCQEFY LNPRIITPITGRG H VKK IIRFCKNIVSVKGIRK BoNT/E MPKINS R NYNDPVNDR 48 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNAN 49 TILYIKPGGCQEFY LNPRIITPITGRGLVKK IIRFCKN AA SVKGIRK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDPVNDR 50 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNAN 51 TILYIKPGGCQEF R LNPRIITPITGRGLVKK VIIRFCKNIS A KGIRK BoNT/F MP A AINSFNYNDPVND 52 TVSEGFNIGNLAVNNRG 53 DTILYMQIPYEEKS QSIKLNPKIIDSIPDKG LVEKIVKFCKS A IPRK BoNT/G MPVNIKNH NYNDPINN 54 QNEGFNIASKNLKTEFN 55 DDIIMMEPFNDPGP GQNKAVNKEAYEEISLE HLVIYRIAMCKP A MYK

Examples of amino acid sequence mutations include changes in the first 30 amino acids of the N-terminus and/or the last 50 amino acids of the C-terminus of the light chain sequence such that one or several amino acids are added, substituted and/or deleted such that the identity, number and position of amino acids in the wild-type light chain sequence is not necessarily conserved in the mutated light chain sequence. Some examples of amino acid sequence mutations are described in Table 4, in which additions of amino acids are shown in bold underlined text, and deletions are indicated by dashes in the sequences shown.

TABLE 4 SEQ SEQ N-term ID C-term (last ID Toxin (AAs 1-30) of LC NO: 50 AAs) of LC NO: BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNG 56 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQ 57 VDIAYIKIP H ---- NTEINNMN AAAAAAAA AA -------CVRGIIT SK BoNT/A M AAA ---- 58 G K NLRNTNLAANFNGQ 59 NYKDPVNGVDIAYIKI NTEINNMNFTKLKNFT PNAGQM GLFEFYK-CVRGIITS K BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNG 60 GFNLRNTNLAA---- 61 VDIA R ----NAGQM H NTEINNMNFTKLKNF TGLFEFYKLLCVRGII TSK BoNT/A MP K VNKQFN---- 62 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQ 63 VNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQM NTEINNMNFTKLKNFT GLFEF RR --------T SK BoNT/B MPVTINNFNYNDPIDND 64 YTI PP GFNISDKNMGK 65 NII AAAAAA ARGT EYRGQNKAINKQAYEE ISKEH----------- -- BoNT/B MP A ---- 66 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGK 67 FNYNDPIDNDNIIMMEP EYRGQNKA AAAAAA EE PFARGT ISKEHLAVYKIQMCKS VK BoNT/B MPVTINNFN R ------- 68 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGK 69 ---MMEPPFARGT EYRGQNKAINKQAY-- ---- AAAAAA IQMCKS VK BoNT/C₁ M--------- 70 NIPKSNLNVLFMGQNL 71 SDPVDNKNILYLDTHLN SRNPALRKVNPENML A TLA AA ---CHKAIDGRSLY NK BoNT/D MT R PVKD---- 72 YTIRDGFNLTNKGFNI 73 DPVNDNDILYLRIPQNK ENSGQNIERNPALQKL LI ------DL P PKVCLRL TK BoNT/E MPKINS PP NYNDPVNDR 74 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNA 75 TILYIKPGGCQEFY NLNPRIITPITGRGLV KK AAAA CKNIVSVKGI RK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDP AAAA N 76 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNA 77 DRTILYIKPGGCQEFY NLNPRIITPITGRGLV --- H RFCKNIVSVKGI RK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDPVNDRT 78 GYNINNLKVNFRGQNA 79 IL K IKPGGC K EFY NLNPRIITPITGRGL P P --------------- -- BoNT/F MP------ 80 TVSEGFNIGNLAVNNR 81 NYNDPVNDDTILYMQIP GQSIKLNPKIIDSIPD YEEKS KG AAAAAA --CKSVIP RK BoNT/G MPVNI PP ---- 82 QNEGFNIASKNLKTEF 83 DPINNDDIIMMEPFNDP NGQNKAVNKEAY---- GP ----------- AAAAA AA

Examples of amino acid sequence deletions include the removal of one or more contiguous or non-contiguous amino acids from the first 30 amino acids of the N-terminus and/or the last 50 amino acids of the C-terminus of the light chain sequence. Some examples of amino acid sequence deletions are indicated by dashes in the sequences shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 SEQ SEQ N-term ID C-term (last ID Toxin (AAs 1-30) of LC NO: 50 AAs) of LC NO: BoNT/A M-------- 84 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQ 85 YKDPVNGVDIAYIKIP NTEINNMNFTKLKNFT NAGQM GLFEFYK--------- -- BoNT/A MPFVNKQ------ 86 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQ 87 VNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQ NTEINNMNFTKLK--- M -------LLCVRGIIT SK BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDP--- 88 GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQ 89 ---AYIKIPNAGQM NTEINNMN-------- GLFEFYKLLCVRGIIT SK BoNT/A MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNG 90 GFNLRN---------- 91 VDIA---------- NTEINNMNFTKLKNFT GLFEFYKLLCVRGIIT SK BoNT/B MPVTINNFNYNDPIDN 92 YTI-----ISDKNMGK 93 DNIIMME------- EYRGQNKAINKQAYEE ISKEHLAVYKIQMCKS VK BoNT/B MPVTINNFNYND---- 94 YTIEEGFNISD----- 95 ------EPPFARGT ---GQNKAINKQAYEE ISKEHLAVYKIQMCKS VK BoNT/B MP-------- 96 YTIEEGFNISDKNMGK 97 NDPIDNDNIIMMEPPF EYRGQNKAINKQA--- ARGT ---------KIQMCKS VK BoNT/C₁ MPI------- 98 NIPKSNLNVLFMGQNL 99 SDPVDNKNILYLDTHL SRNPALRKV------- NTLA ---KFCHKAIDGRSLY NK BoNT/D MTW---------- 100  YTIRDGFNLTNKGFNI 101  VNDNDILYLRIPQNKL ENSGQNIERNPA---- I ------DLFTKVCLRL TK BoNT/E MP-------- 102  GYNINNLKVNFRGQNA 103  DPVNDRTILYIKPGGC NLNPRIITPI------ QEFY ----RFCKNIVSVKGI RK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYN------ 104  GYNINN------ 105  ----IKPGGCQEFY GQNANLNPRIITPITG RGLVKKIIRFCKNIVS VKGIRK BoNT/E MPKINSFNYNDPVNDR 106  GYNINNLKVNFRGQNA 107  TILYIK-------- NLNPRIITPITGRGLV KKIIR--------KGI RK BoNT/F MPVAINSFNYNDPVND 108  TVSEGFNIGNLAVNNR 109  DTILYMQIP----- GQSIKLNPKIIDSIPD --------KFCKSVIP RK BoNT/G M--------------- — QNEGFNIASKNLKTEF 110  -------------- NGQNKAVNKEA----- -------RIAMCKPVM YK

Example 13

In some embodiments of the present invention, the biological persistence and/or the enzymatic activity of a toxin can be altered by structurally modifying the toxin. In some embodiments, the structural modification includes the substitution, mutation or deletion of amino acids within the toxin. In some embodiments, the structural modification includes a chimeric fusion construct in which a biological persistence-enhancing component or an enzymatic activity-enhancing component may be fused to, swapped for, or incorporated within a terminal end of the light chain of a botulinum toxin. In some embodiments, the structural modification includes a chimeric fusion construct in which a biological persistence-reducing component or an enzymatic activity-reducing component may be fused to, swapped for, or incorporated within a terminal end of the light chain of a botulinum toxin. In some embodiments, the persistence- or activity-enhancing or persistence- or activity-reducing component is an N-terminal region including the first 30 amino acids of a light chain of a botulinum toxin, or a C-terminal region including the last 50 amino acids of a light chain of a botulinum toxin. This biological persistence- or enzymatic activity-enhancing component or biological persistence- or enzymatic activity-reducing component is swapped for, fused to, or incorporated within an N- and/or C-terminus of a light chain of a botulinum toxin to enhance or reduce its biological persistence and/or enzymatic activity.

In some embodiments, the fusion of, addition to, or swapping of the N-terminal region of the light chain of BoNT/A into a chimeric construct results in an increase in biological persistence and/or enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, a substituted, mutated, or deleted N-terminal region of the light chain of BoNT/A within a chimeric construct results in a decrease in biological persistence and/or enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, the fusion of, addition to, or swapping of the C-terminal region of the light chain of BoNT/A into a chimeric construct results in an increase in biological persistence and/or enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, a substituted, mutated, or deleted C-terminal region of the light chain of BoNT/A within a chimeric construct results in a decrease in biological persistence and/or enzymatic activity.

Generally, it is suitable that the chimeric toxin has a biological persistence of about 20% to 300% greater than an identical toxin without the structural modification. The biological persistence of the chimeric toxin may be enhanced by about 100%. That is, for example, the modified botulinum neurotoxin including the biological persistence-enhancing component is able to cause a substantial inhibition of neurotransmitter release (for example, acetylcholine) from a nerve terminal for about 20% to about 300% longer than a neurotoxin without the structural modification.

Similarly, it is suitable that the chimeric botulinum toxin light chain has an altered enzymatic activity. For example, the chimeric toxin can exhibit a reduced or an enhanced inhibition of exocytosis (such as exocytosis of a neurotransmitter) from a target cell with or without any alteration in the biological persistence of the modified neurotoxin. Altered enzymatic activities include increased or decreased efficiency or potency, increased or decreased localization to the plasma membrane, increased or decreased substrate specificity, and/or increased or decreased rate of proteolysis of SNAP/SNARE proteins. An increase in enzymatic activity can be from 1.5 to 5 times greater than the biological activity of the native or unmodified light chain. For example, the chimeric botulinum neurotoxin including the enzymatic activity-enhancing component is able to cause a substantial inhibition of neurotransmitter release (for example, acetylcholine) from a nerve terminal due to an increased rate of proteolysis of the SNAP-25 substrate as compared to a neurotoxin without the structural modification.

It has been observed that a recombinant construct with both eight amino acid residues (PFVNKQFN; SEQ ID NO: 120) deleted from the N-terminus and twenty-two amino acid residues (KNFTG LFEFYKLLCV RGIITSK; SEQ ID NO: 121) deleted from the C-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin A exhibits a reduced activity such that the effective concentration (EC₅₀) required to cleave the SNAP-25 substrate is nearly ten-fold greater than that of a similar construct with only the C-terminal twenty-two amino acid deletion (EC₅₀ ΔN8ΔC22=4663 pM vs. EC₅₀Δ C22=566 pM). The recombinant light chain of botulinum toxin A was used as a control (EC₅₀ rLC/A=7 pM), and, therefore, as compared to the rLC/A construct, a 666-fold greater concentration of the ΔNΔ8C22 construct is required. A recombinant light chain construct with the dileucine motif mutated to dialanine [rLC/A(LL-->AA)] also exhibits reduced activity (EC₅₀ rLC/A(LL-->AA)=184 μM); however, the effective concentration of the ΔN8ΔC22 construct is twenty-five fold greater than the rLC/A(LL-->AA) construct.

A modified light chain may include a light chain from botulinum toxins A, B, C1, D, E, F or G. One or multiple domains at the N- and/or C-terminus may be modified by addition, deletion or substitution. For example, a modified chimeric light chain component may include a light chain from BoNT/E modified by adding or replacing/substituting one or more N- and/or C-terminal end sequences derived from the BoNT/A light chain, thereby resulting in a chimeric BoNT/E-BoNT/A chimeric light chain with one or both terminal ends having one or more sequences which convey an increased or decreased ability to localize to a plasma membrane, increased or decreased biological persistence and/or an increased or decreased enzymatic activity.

A chimeric botulinum toxin can be constructed such that a C-terminal portion of the light chain of one botulinum toxin serotype replaces a similar C-terminal portion within the light chain of another botulinum toxin serotype. For example, the last twenty two amino acid residues bearing the dileucine motif from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last twenty two amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 124) MPKINSFNYNDPVNDRTILYIKPGGCQEFYKSFNIMKNIWIIPERNVIGT TPQDFHPPTSLKNGDSSYYDPNYLQSDEEKDRFLKIVTKIFNRINNNLSG GILLEELSKANPYLGNDNTPDNQFHIGDASAVEIKFSNGSQDILLPNVII MGAEPDLFETNSSNISLRNNYMPSNHGFGSIAIVTFSPEYSFRFNDNSMN EFIQDPALTLMHELIHSLHGLYGAKGITTKYTITQKQNPLITNIRGTNIE EFLTFGGTDLNIITSAQSNDIYTNLLADYKKIASKLSKVQVSNPLLNPYK DVFEAKYGLDKDASGIYSVNINKFNDIFKKLYSFTEFDLATKFQVKCRQT YIGQYKYFKLSNLLNDSIYNISEGYNINNLKVNFRGQNANLNPRIITPIT G KNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/E serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the last twenty two amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A which bears the dileucine motif.

In a further example, the first thirty amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the first thirty amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 125) MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQM GRYYKAFKITDRIWIIPERY TFGYKPEDFNKSSGIFNRDVCEYYDPDYLNTNDKKNIFFQTLIKLFNRIK SKPLGEKLLEMIINGIPYLGDRRVPLEEFNTNIASVTVNKLISNPGEVER KKGIFANLIIFGPGPVLNENETIDIGIQNHFASREGFGGIMQMKFCPEYV SVFNNVQENKGASIFNRRGYFSDPALILMHELIHVLHGLYGIKVDDLPIV PNEKKFFMQSTDTIQAEELYTFGGQDPSIISPSTDKSIYDKVLQNFRGIV DRLNKVLVCISDPNININIYKNKFKDKYKFVEDSEGKYSIDVESFNKLYK SLMLGFTEINIAENYKIKTRASYFSDSLPPVKIKNLLDNEIYTIEEGFNI SDKNMGKEYRGQNKAINKQAYEEISKEHLAVYKIQMCKSVK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/B serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the first thirty amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

Still further, the chimeric construct can have both N-terminal and the C-terminal replacements. For example, the first nine amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E. Additionally, in the same construct, the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 126) MPFVNKQFN NDPVNDRTILYIKPGGCQEFYKSFNIMKNIWIIPERNVIGT TPQDFHPPTSLKNGDSSYYDPNYLQSDEEKDRFLKIVTKIFNRINNNLSG GILLEELSKANPYLGNDNTPDNQFHIGDASAVEIKFSNGSQDILLPNVII MGAEPDLFETNSSNISLRNNYMPSNHGFGSIAIVTFSPEYSFRFNDNSMN EFIQDPALTLMHELIHSLHGLYGAKGITTKYTITQKQNPLITNIRGTNIE EFLTFGGTDLNIITSAQSNDIYTNLLADYKKIASKLSKVQVSNPLLNPYK DVFEAKYGLDKDASGIYSVNINKFNDIFKKLYSFTEFDLATKFQVKCRQT YIGQYKYFKLSNLLNDSIYNISEGYNINNLKVNFRGQNANLNPRIITPIT G KNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/E serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last twenty-two amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

Similarly, the first nine amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B. Additionally, in the same construct, the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 127) MPFVNKQFN YNDPIDNDNIIMMEPPFARGTGRYYKAFKITDRIWIIPERY TFGYKPEDFNKSSGIFNRDVCEYYDPDYLNTNDKKNIFFQTLIKLFNRIK SKPLGEKLLEMIINGIPYLGDRRVPLEEFNTNIASVTVNKLISNPGEVER KKGIFANLIIFGPGPVLNENETIDIGIQNHFASREGFGGIMQMKFCPEYV SVFNNVQENKGASIFNRRGYFSDPALILMHELIHVLHGLYGIKVDDLPIV PNEKKFFMQSTDTIQAEELYTFGGQDPSIISPSTDKSIYDKVLQNFRGIV DRLNKVLVCISDPNININIYKNKFKDKYKFVEDSEGKYSIDVESFNKLYK SLMLGFTEINIAENYKIKTRASYFSDSLPPVKIKNLLDNEIYTIEEGFNI SDKNMGKEYRGQNKAINKQ KNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/B serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last twenty-two amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

Furthermore, the first nine amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F. Additionally, in the same construct, the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last twenty-two amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 128) MPFVNKQFN YNDPVNDDTILYMQIPYEEKSKKYYKAFEIMRNVWIIPERN TIGTNPSDFDPPASLKNGSSAYYDPNYLTTDAEKDRYLKTTIKLFKRINS NPAGKVLLQEISYAKPYLGNDHTPIDEFSPVTRTTSVNIKLSTNVESSML LNLLVLGAGPDIFESCCYPVRKLIDPDVVYDPSNYGFGSINIVTFSPEYE YTFNDISGGHNSSTESFIADPAISLAHELIHALHGLYGARGVTYEETIEV KQAPLMIAEKPIRLEEFLTFGGQDLNIITSAMKEKIYNNLLANYEKIATR LSEVNSAPPEYDINEYKDYFQWKYGLDKNADGSYTVNENKFNEIYKKLYS FTESDLANKFKVKCRNTYFIKYEFLKVPNLLDDDIYTVSEGFNIGNLAVN NRGQSIKLNPKIID KNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/F serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the first nine amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last twenty-two amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In some embodiments, a light chain can be engineered such that one or more segments of the light chain of one or more toxin serotypes replace one or more segments of equal or unequal length within the light chain of another toxin serotype. In a non-limiting example of this kind of chimeric construct, fifty amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace eight amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B, resulting in a net gain of forty-two amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the light chain chimera. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 129) M PFVNKQFNYKDPVNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQMQPVKAFKIHNKIWVIPERDT F YNDPIDNDNIIMMEPPFARGTGRYYKAFKITDRIWIIPERYTFGYKPED FNKSSGIFNRDVCEYYDPDYLNTNDKKNIFFQTLIKLFNRIKSKPLGEKL LEMIINGIPYLGDRRVPLEEFNTNIASVTVNKLISNPGEVERKKGIFANL IIFGPGPVLNENETIDIGIQNHFASREGFGGIMQMKFCPEYVSVFNNVQE NKGASIFNRRGYFSDPALILMHELIHVLHGLYGIKVDDLPIVPNEKKFFM QSTDTIQAEELYTFGGQDPSIISPSTDKSIYDKVLQNFRGIVDRLNKVLV CISDPNININIYKNKFKDKYKFVEDSEGKYSIDVESFNKLYKSLMLGFTE INIAENYKIKTRASYFSDSLPPVKIKNLLDNEIYTIEEGFNISDKNMGKE YRGQNKAINKQAYEEISKEHLAVYKIQMCKSVK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/B serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the first fifty amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In a non-limiting example of this kind of chimeric construct, the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace fifteen amino acid residues within the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E, resulting in a net gain of thirty-five amino acids in the C-terminal region of the light chain chimera. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 130) MPKINSFNYNDPVNDRTILYIKPGGCQEFYKSFNIMKNIWIIPERNVIGT TPQDFHPPTSLKNGDSSYYDPNYLQSDEEKDRFLKIVTKIFNRINNNLSG GILLEELSKANPYLGNDNTPDNQFHIGDASAVEIKFSNGSQDILLPNVII MGAEPDLFETNSSNISLRNNYMPSNHGFGSIAIVTFSPEYSFRFNDNSMN EFIQDPALTLMHELIHSLHGLYGAKGITTKYTITQKQNPLITNIRGTNIE EFLTFGGTDLNIITSAQSNDIYTNLLADYKKIASKLSKVQVSNPLLNPYK DVFEAKYGLDKDASGIYSVNINKFNDIFKKLYSFTEFDLATKFQVKCRQT YIGQYKYFKLSNLLNDSIYNISEGYNINNLKVNFRGQNANLNPRIITP GF NLRNTNLAANFNGQNTEINNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK NI VSVKGIRK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/E serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the last fifty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In a non-limiting example of this kind of chimeric construct, thirty amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace ten amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E, resulting in a net gain of twenty amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the chimera. Additionally, in the same construct, the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 131) MPKINSFNY MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQM YIKPGGCQEFY KSFNIMKNIWIIPERNVIGTTPQDFHPPTSLKNGDSSYYDPNYLQSDEEK DRFLKIVTKIFNRINNNLSGGILLEELSKANPYLGNDNTPDNQFHIGDAS AVEIKFSNGSQDILLPNVIIMGAEPDLFETNSSNISLRNNYMPSNHGFGS IAIVTFSPEYSFRFNDNSMNEFIQDPALTLMHELIHSLHGLYGAKGITTK YTITQKQNPLITNIRGTNIEEFLTFGGTDLNIITSAQSNDIYTNLLADYK KIASKLSKVQVSNPLLNPYKDVFEAKYGLDKDASGIYSVNINKFNDIFKK LYSFTEFDLATKFQVKCRQTYIGQYKYFKLSNLLNDSIYNISE GFNLRNT NLAANFNGQNTEINNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/E serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the thirty amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last fifty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In a non-limiting example of this kind of chimeric construct, thirty amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace ten amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B, resulting in a net gain of twenty amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the chimera. Additionally, in the same construct, the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 132) MPVTINNFN MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQM IMMEPPFARGT GRYYKAFKITDRIWIIPERYTFGYKPEDFNKSSGIFNRDVCEYYDPDYLN TNDKKNIFFQTLIKLFNRIKSKPLGEKLLEMIINGIPYLGDRRVPLEEFN TNIASVTVNKLISNPGEVERKKGIFANLIIFGPGPVLNENETIDIGIQNH FASREGFGGIMQMKFCPEYVSVFNNVQENKGASIFNRRGYFSDPALILMH ELIHVLHGLYGIKVDDLPIVPNEKKFFMQSTDTIQAEELYTFGGQDPSII SPSTDKSIYDKVLQNFRGIVDRLNKVLVCISDPNININIYKNKFKDKYKF VEDSEGKYSIDVESFNKLYKSLMLGFTEINIAENYKIKTRASYFSDSLPP VKIKNLLDNEI GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQNTEINNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYK LLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/B serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the thirty amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last fifty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In a non-limiting example of this kind of chimeric construct, thirty amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace ten amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F, resulting in a net gain of twenty amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the chimera. Additionally, in the same construct, the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace the last fifty amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 133) MPVAINSFN MPFVNKQFNYKDPVNGVDIAYIKIPNAGQM LYMQIPYEEKS KKYYKAFEIMRNVWIIPERNTIGTNPSDFDPPASLKNGSSAYYDPNYLTT DAEKDRYLKTTIKLFKRINSNPAGKVLLQEISYAKPYLGNDHTPIDEFSP VTRTTSVNIKLSTNVESSMLLNLLVLGAGPDIFESCCYPVRKLIDPDVVY DPSNYGFGSINIVTFSPEYEYTFNDISGGHNSSTESFIADPAISLAHELI HALHGLYGARGVTYEETIEVKQAPLMIAEKPIRLEEFLTFGGQDLNIITS AMKEKIYNNLLANYEKIATRLSEVNSAPPEYDINEYKDYFQWKYGLDKNA DGSYTVNENKFNEIYKKLYSFTESDLANKFKVKCRNTYFIKYEFLKVPNL LDDDIY GFNLRNTNLAANFNGQNTEINNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYKLLCVR GIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/F serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold underlined text are derived from the thirty amino acid residues of the N-terminus and the last fifty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In some embodiments, the swapped sequences can be derived from two different serotypes, resulting in a chimera with regions from three different serotypes in all. In this example, eight amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B can replace five amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E, resulting in a net gain of three amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the chimera. Additionally, in the same construct, 30 amino acid residues including the dileucine repeat of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace ten amino acid residues within the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/E, resulting in a net gain of 20 amino acids in the C-terminal region of the chimera. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 134) MPKINSFNYNDP

DRTILYIKPGGCQEFYKSFNIMKNIWIIPE RNVIGTTPQDFHPPTSLKNGDSSYYDPNYLQSDEEKDRFLKIVTKIFNRI NNNLSGGILLEELSKANPYLGNDNTPDNQFHIGDASAVEIKFSNGSQDIL LPNVIIMGAEPDLFETNSSNISLRNNYMPSNHGFGSIAIVTFSPEYSFRF NDNSMNEFIQDPALTLMHELIHSLHGLYGAKGITTKYTITQKQNPLITNI RGTNIEEFLTFGGTDLNIITSAQSNDIYTNLLADYKKIASKLSKVQVSNP LLNPYKDVFEAKYGLDKDASGIYSVNINKFNDIFKKLYSFTEFDLATKFQ VKCRQTYIGQYKYFKLSNLLNDSIYNISEGYNINNLKVNFRGQNANLNPR IITPITGRGLVKKIIRFCK NNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYKLLCVRGIITSK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/E serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold italicized text are derived from eight amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B and thirty amino acid residues shown in bold underlined text are derived from thirty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

In a non-limiting example, eight amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B can replace five amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F, resulting in a net gain of three amino acids in length in the N-terminal region of the chimera. Additionally, in the same construct, 30 amino acid residues including the dileucine repeat of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A can replace ten amino acid residues within the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/F, resulting in a net gain of 20 amino acids in the C-terminal region of the chimera. The amino acid sequence of the entire light chain of such a chimeric construct is shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 135) MPVAINSFNYND

TILYMQIPYEEKSKKYYKAFEIMRNVWIIP ERNTIGTNPSDFDPPASLKNGSSAYYDPNYLTTDAEKDRYLKTTIKLFKR INSNPAGKVLLQEISYAKPYLGNDHTPIDEFSPVTRTTSVNIKLSTNVES SMLLNLLVLGAGPDIFESCCYPVRKLIDPDVVYDPSNYGFGSINIVTFSP EYEYTFNDISGGHNSSTESFIADPAISLAHELIHALHGLYGARGVTYEET IEVKQAPLMIAEKPIRLEEFLTFGGQDLNIITSAMKEKIYNNLLANYEKI ATRLSEVNSAPPEYDINEYKDYFQWKYGLDKNADGSYTVNENKFNEIYKK LYSFTESDLANKFKVKCRNTYFIKYEFLKVPNLLDDDIYTVSEGFNIGNL AVNNRGQSIKLNPKIIDSIPDKGLVEK NNMNFTKLKNFTGLFEFYKLLCV RGIITSK RK

In the construct above, the majority of the amino acid sequence is derived from BoNT/F serotype, and the amino acids shown in bold italicized text are derived from eight amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/B and thirty amino acid residues shown in bold underlined text are derived from thirty amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the light chain of BoNT/A.

Example 14

The invention also provides for a light chain of a botulinum toxin B, C1, D, E, F or G comprising about the first 30 amino acids from the N-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A and about the last 50 amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A. The first 30 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-16 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 30 amino acids. The last 50 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-43 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 50 amino acids.

In some embodiments, such a light chain comprises about the first 20 amino acids from the N-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A and about the last 30 amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A. The first 20 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-16 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 20 amino acids. The last 30 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-23 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 30 amino acids.

In some embodiments, such a light chain comprises about the first 4 to 8, e.g. the first 8, amino acids from the N-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A and about the last 7 to 22, e.g. the last 22, amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of botulinum toxin type A. The first 8 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-7 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 7 amino acids. The last 22 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-16 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 20 amino acids.

In some embodiments, the inclusion of about the first 30 amino acids from the N-terminus and about the last 50 amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of type A replaces one or more amino acids at the N- and C-termini, respectively, of the light chain of botulinum toxin type B, C1, D, E, F or G. The first 30 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-16 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 30 amino acids. The last 50 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-43 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 50 amino acids.

In some embodiments, the inclusion of about the 20 amino acids from the N-terminus and about the 30 amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of type A replaces one or more amino acids at the N- and C-termini, respectively, of the light chain of botulinum toxin type B, C1, D, E, F or G. The first 20 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-16 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 20 amino acids. The last 30 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-23 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 30 amino acids.

In some embodiments, the inclusion of about the first 4 to 8, for example the first 8, amino acids from the N-terminus and about the last 7 to 22, for example the last 22, amino acids from the C-terminus of the light chain of type A replaces one or more amino acids at the N- and C-termini, respectively, of the light chain of botulinum toxin type B, C1, D, E, F or G. The first 8 amino acids of the N-terminus of type A here may be all or part, for example 2-7 contiguous or non contiguous amino acids, of the 7 amino acids. The last 22 amino acids here may be all or part, for example 5-16 contiguous or non-contiguous, amino acids of the 20 amino acids.

The invention also provides for a modified botulinum toxin comprising the light chain of described herein, including the ones described in the Examples above.

Example 15 Generation of LC/E Chimeras

Truncation of 8 amino acids at the N-terminus of the LC/A (SEQ ID NO: 120) completely disrupts plasma membrane localization. The LC/A(ΔN8) is cytoplasmic with a distribution similar to LC/E. The sequences at the N-terminus of LC/A and LC/E are different (FIG. 1).

To generate the LC/E with the N-terminus of the LC/A we pursued two different approaches. The first one was to perform PCR on the native beluga LC/E gene with a 5′ primer that contains the N-terminus of the LC/A. Primers for PCR were:

N-ter LC/A forward: (SEQ ID NO: 146) 5′ACCGGATCCCCATTTGTTAATAAACAGTTTAATTATAATGA 3′ N-ter LC/A reverse: (SEQ ID NO: 147) 5′ CGCGAAGCTTCCTTATGCCTTTTACAGAAACAATATTTTTAC 3′

The PCR was performed with 0.4 μg of the plasmid template pQBI25fC3beluga LC/E, and 125 ng of each primer. The cycling program was:

Denaturalizat: 95° C. for 15 min

-   -   5 cycles: 94° C. for 30 sec         -   50° C. for 30 sec         -   72° C. for 1 min     -   25 cycles: 94° C. for 30 sec         -   68° C. for 30 sec         -   72° C. for 1 min

Extension: 72° C. for 10 min

The first five cycles at low annealing temperature will allow the primer to anneal to the 5′ sequence of the LC/E despite the differences in sequence. The second set of 25 cycles will use the product with the right sequence for further and more restricted amplification.

The second strategy to generate the LC/E chimera with the N-terminus of the LC/A was to mutate one amino acid as a time using site-directed mutagenesis. The primers designed were as follow:

1. Change the sequence on LC/E from Pro-Lys-Ile to Pro-Phe-Val: (SEQ ID NO: 148) 5′ CCGGTTACCGGTACCGGATCCCCATTTGTTAATAGTTTTAATTA T 3′ 2. Change the sequence Pro-Phe-Val-Asn-Ser to Pro- Phe-Val-Asn-Lys: (SEQ ID NO: 149) 5′ CGGATCCCCATTTGTTAATAAATTTAATTATAATGATCCTGTT 3′ 3. Insert a glutamine to complete the N-terminal sequence of the LC/A in the LC/E: (SEQ ID NO: 150) 5′ GATCCCCATTTCTTAATAAACAGTTTAATTATAATGATCCTGTT 3′

Primers shown are on the sense strand, a complimentary primer corresponding to the antisense strand was also ordered and used in the PCR. The template used in the QuikChange mutagenesis was pQBI25fC3beluga LC/E.

We also analyzed the importance of the di-leucine motif present only in the LC/A by generating a motif in the LC/E in a similar area at the C-terminus (FIG. 2). The sequence in the LC/E reads LxxxII (SEQ ID NO: 163). Since Isoleucines can substitute for Leucines in some of the motif published we designed primers to generate ExxxII (SEQ ID NO: 144), and also primers to generate ExxxLL (SEQ ID NO: 145). Those mutations were done in the native LC/E gene and also in the LC/E containing the N-terminus of the LC/A.

We generated a total of 5 chimeras with all the combinations of the N-terminus of the LC/A and various stages of the di-leucine motif construction as seen in FIG. 3. The complete DNA and annotated amino acid sequence of the wild type LC/E, the chimeric LC/E with the N-terminus of the LC/A, the chimeric LC/E with the LC/A di-leucine motif at the C-terminus, and the full chimeric LC/E with both the N-terminus and the di-leucine motif from LC/A are shown in FIGS. 14-17. We have tested all those mutants for expression, activity, and subcellular localization.

Cell Lines and Growth Conditions

SH-SY5Y (Human Neuroblastoma cell line) cells were cultured in Costar brand polystyrene flasks with vented caps. Growth media consisted of Minimum Essential Medium with Earle's salts and L-glutamine, F-12 Nutrient Mixture (Ham) with L-glutamine, 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (heat-inactivated), Non-Essential Amino-Acids, HEPES, L-Glutamine, Penicillin/Streptomycin. PC-12 (Rat Chromaffin Pheochromocytoma cell line) cells were maintained on Collagen IV coated BD Biocoat dishes (BD Biosciences, Bedford, Mass.). Growth media consisted of RPMI-1640 with L-glutamine, 10% Horse Serum (heat-inactivated), 5% Fetal Bovine Serum (heat-inactivated), HEPES, D-Glucose (Sigma), Sodium Pyruvate, Penicillin/Streptomycin. All (except D-Glucose, Sigma) growth media components were Gibco products purchased from Invitrogen and all cell lines were cultured and maintained at 37° C. with 7.5% CO₂.

Transient Transfection:

The day before transfection, SH-SY5Y cells were plated at 1×10⁶ into 6-well plates. Transfections were carried out by diluting LipofectAmine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) at 60 μl per ml in OPTI-MEM Reduced Serum Medium following incubation at RT for 5 min. Next, we diluted 20 μg DNA per ml in OPTI-MEM, then combined equal amount of DNA mix and LipofectAmine 2000 (LF) mix, and incubated at RT for another 20 min. Meanwhile, the culture medium in the plates were replaced with 2 ml of serum free medium, 0.5 ml of DNA+LF mix was then added into the wells and incubated at 37° C. CO₂ incubator for 6 hours. After the incubation the medium was removed and replaced with 10% FCS culture medium. The cells were harvested 24 hours post transfection for further analysis. For confocal analysis, transfections were usually performed in 2-well culture slices with proportionally reduced amount of reagents.

Transfection into PC12 cells were performed as follow: PC12 cells were plated the day before transfection in Collagen IV coated dishes at 10×10⁶ cells per 100 mm dishes and 2×10⁶ cells per 60 mm dishes. Plates were transfected with 20 μg or 10 μg respectively with Lipofectamine 2000 in OPTI-MEM media. 48 hours after transfection, cells were placed on differentiation media and collected for western blots or fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for confocal imaging.

Western Blot Analysis:

Cells were collected in 15 ml Falcon tubes, washed once with 1 ml of PBS, and then transferred to 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes. Cells were lysed in 0.5 ml of lysis buffer (50 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EGTA, 10% glycerol and 1% triton X-100) on rotator at 4° C. for 1 hour. Lysed cells were spun down at 5000 rpm at 4° C. for 10 min to eliminate debris; supernatants were transferred to fresh siliconized tubes. Protein concentrations were measured by the Bradford's method and resuspended in 1×SDS sample buffer at 1 mg/ml or higher concentration. Samples were boiled for 5 min, 20 to 40 μl of the samples were loaded on 4-12% Tris-HCl gels. Proteins were transferred to PVDF membranes, and blocked in 5% non-fat milk in TBST buffer for 1 hour at room temperature. The cleaved SNAP25 was detected with antiSNAP25₁₉₇ antibody or with antiSNAP25₁₈₀ diluted in blocking buffer; blot was washed extensively, and the bound antibody was detected with horseradish peroxidase conjugated to species-specific antibody.

When we needed to detect SNAP25₂₀₆, SNAP25₁₉₇ and SNAP25₂₀₆ in the same blot using the Monoclonal antibody SMI-81 to the N-terminus of the SNAP25, cell lysates were run on a 12% Bis-Tris gel to allow separation of the cleaved SNAP25.

We used the Typhoon 9410 Imager (Amersham) for Western Blot Analysis instead of traditional film. After the final washes the membrane was reacted with ECL Plus western blot detection reagent (Amersham) rather than SuperSignal reagent used previously, blot was incubated at room temperature for 5 min to develop. The choice of pixel size and PMT voltage settings will depend on the individual blot. Membranes were scanned and quantified using Typhoon Scanner and Imager Analysis software.

SH-SY5Y Transient Transfections for SNAP-25 Immunocytochemistry

One day before transfection, SH-SY5Y cells were plated in 60 mm tissue culture dishes at densities of 1.5×10⁶ or 1.6×10⁶ cells per dish to achieve 90-95% confluence at the time of transfection. Transfections were performed by diluting 25 μl of Lipofectamine™ 2000 (Invitrogen) in 0.5 ml Opti-MEM® I Reduced Serum Medium (Invitrogen) followed by incubation at room temperature for 5 min. DNA (10 μg) was diluted in 0.5 ml Opti-MEM® I Reduced Serum Medium. The diluted DNA was mixed gently with the diluted Lipofectamine™ 2000. This mixture was incubated for 20 min at room temperature. Meanwhile, the culture medium in the plates was replaced with 2 ml of serum-free and antibiotic-free medium. The DNA plus Lipofectamine™ 2000 complex was added drop-wise to the cells and mixed into the culture medium by rocking the plates back and forth. Cells were incubated at 37° C., 7.5% CO₂ for 24 hours. Transfection efficiencies were determined by viewing cells with the fluorescence microscope. Transfection efficiencies obtained with the GFP construct were ca. 40-50%. Lower transfection efficiencies were observed with the GFP-LCE constructs, ca. 10-15%. Antibiotic selection of cells was accomplished in complete medium containing 0.5 mg/ml Geneticin G418 (Invitrogen) for 48 hours before proceeding with the immunocytochemistry.

PC-12 Transient Transfections for SNAP-25 Immunocytochemistry

Cells were plated one day before transfection in Collagen IV coated dishes (BD Biosciences) at 1-2×10⁶ cells per 60 mm dish. Plates were transfected using 10 μg DNA and 25 μl Lipofectamine™ 2000 (each diluted in 0.5 ml Opti-MEM® I Reduced Serum Medium). The cells were incubated with the DNA/Lipofectamine™ 2000 complex for 24 hours in serum- and antibiotic-free medium at 37° C., 7.5% CO₂. The transfection medium was replaced with complete growth medium (serum and antibiotics included) containing 0.5 mg/ml G418 (antibiotic selection) and incubation continued at 37° C., 7.5% CO₂ for a further 48 hours. Cells were placed in differentiation medium (RPMI-1640 with L-glutamine, D-Glucose (Sigma), Sodium Pyruvate, Penicillin/Streptomycin, BSA (ALBUMAX II, lipid rich), N2-Supplement) containing Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) (Harlan Bioproducts for Science, Indianapolis, Ind.) at 50 ng/ml final concentration for 24 hours and stained with antibodies specific for GFP, SNAP25₂₀₆ and SNAP25₁₈₀ (Table 6).

TABLE 6 List of antibodies used in the immunocytochemistry experiments Dilution Specificity/ Antibody Source Used Immunogen 1A3A7, ascites IgG1-K, Allergan 1:100, Anti-SNAP25₁₈₀ mouse monoclonal 1:50 cleavage product. Does not cross-react with SNAP25₂₀₆ 1G8C11, ascites IgG1-K, Allergan 1:100, Anti-SNAP25₁₈₀ mouse monoclonal 1:50 cleavage product. Does not cross-react with SNAP25₂₀₆ 1C9F3, ascites IgG1-K, Allergan 1:100, Anti-SNAP25₁₈₀ mouse monoclonal 1:50 cleavage product. Does not cross-react with SNAP25₂₀₆ Anti-GFP(FL), Santa Cruz 1:100 Full length GFP rabbitpolyclonal IgG Biotechnologies (amino acids 1-238 of Aequorea Victoria origin) Anti-GFP, mouse Abcam Inc. 1:100 Full length GFP monoclonal IgG2 (amino acids 1-246 of Aequorea Victoria origin) Anti-SNAP-25, rabbit Stressgen 1:100 Amino acids 195- polyclonal Biotechnologies 206 of mouse/ human/chicken SNAP-25. Specific for SNAP25₂₀₆ Alexa Fluor 568 Goat Molecular 1:100 Secondary for Anti-Rabbit IgG (H + L), Probes SNAP-25₂₀₆ highly cross-absorbed detection Alexa Fluor 488 Goat Molecular 1:100, Secondary for rabbit Anti-Rabbit IgG (H + L) Probes 1:200 polyclonal to GFP(FL) Alexa Fluor 568 Goat Molecular 1:100 Secondary for mouse Anti-Mouse IgG (H + L) Probes monoclonals to SNAP25₁₈₀ Alexa Fluor 488 Goat Molecular 1:100 Secondary for mouse Anti-Mouse IgG (H + L) Probes monoclonal to GFP Immunocytochemistry using Fixative Paraformaldehyde for SNAP25₂₀₆ and SNAP25₁₈₀

Growth medium was removed from cells by aspiration and cells were washed twice with PBS (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (Electron Microscopy Sciences, Washington, Pa.) for 15 to 30 min at room temperature and washed in three changes of PBS. Cells were permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS for 5 min at room temperature and washed in PBS a total of three times. Cells were again permeabilized in ice-cold methanol for 6 min at −20° C. Methanol was removed by aspiration and dishes inverted to allow the cells to dry at room temperature. Wells were drawn around cells using a Pap pen (Zymed, San Francisco, Calif.) and cells were washed and rehydrated in six changes of PBS. Cells were blocked with 100 mM glycine in PBS for 30 min at room temperature followed by three washes in PBS. Cells were incubated in 0.5% BSA in PBS for 30 min at room temperature washed in three changes of PBS before addition of the primary antibodies diluted in 0.5% BSA in PBS (Table 6). Cells were incubated at room temperature in a humid chamber for 2 hours or at 4° C. overnight. Primary antibody was removed by a PBS wash without incubation and was followed by three 5 min washes in PBS. Cells were incubated with the fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies (Alexa Fluor Anti-Mouse or Anti-Rabbit Antibodies, Molecular Probes, Table 6) diluted in 0.5% BSA/PBS for 1 hour at room temperature in a humid chamber and washed in PBS. Cells were mounted using VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium (Vector, Burlingham, Calif.) and coverslipped. Cells were stored at 4° C. before viewing with a Leica confocal microscope

Results

Generation of LC/E Chimeras Containing the Localization Signals for LC/A

We have identified sequences in the N-terminus and C-terminus of the LC/A that are important for localization of the protein to the plasma membrane. Deletion of the first 8 amino acids at the N-terminus causes complete loss of plasma membrane localization, with the LC/A(ΔN8) localizing in the cytoplasm with nuclear exclusion. Disruption of the di-leucine motif at the C-terminus produces also changes in localization. To validate those signals we generated chimeras between the LC/A and the LC/E, since both cleave the same substrate at different sites, but have different subcellular localization and duration of action. LC/E localizes to the cytoplasm and lasts 1-2 weeks. We generated the following constructs using the native beluga LC/E sequence of SEQ ID NO: 136: LC/E(N-LCA) of SEQ ID NO: 138, LC/E(ExxxII) of SEQ ID NO: 122, LC/E(ExxxLL) of SEQ ID NO: 140, LC/E(N-LCA/ExxxII) of SEQ ID NO: 123, and LC/E(N-LCA/ExxxLL) of SEQ ID NO: 142 (FIG. 3 and Table 7) in order to analyze the effect of each signal by itself, and the effect of both signals combined. These constructs were transfected into the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Cell lysates were prepared and the activity of the mutants was analyzed with the SMI-81 antibody that recognizes both cleaved and intact SNAP25 (FIG. 4).

TABLE 7 Name Contains GFP attached to: GFP-LCE SEQ ID NO: 136, a Wild-type-LC/E GFP-LCE Nterm LCA SEQ ID NO: 138, a LC/E with the first eight amino-acid of LC/A at the N-terminus GFP-LCE (ExxxII) SEQ ID NO: 122, a LC/E with a di-isoleucine motif in C-terminal region di-isoleucine can substitute for leucine in the motif) GFP-LCE (ExxxLL) SEQ ID NO: 140, a LC/E with a di-leucine motif in C-terminal region GFP-LCE Nterm LCA SEQ ID NO: 123, a LC/E with the first eight (ExxxII) amino-acid of LC/A at the N-terminus and di- isoleucine motif in C-terminal region GFP-LCE Nterm LCA SEQ ID NO: 142, a LC/E with the first eight (ExxxLL) amino-acid of LC/A at the N-terminus and dileucine motif in C-terminal region

All the chimeras expressed in SH-SY5Y are able to cleave SNAP25₂₀₆ into SNAP25₁₈₀, and they do not cleave the substrate at any other sites (FIG. 4). The preliminary data from the two experiments performed shows different levels of activity of the chimeras when compared to native LC/E. We could not distinguish if those differences are due to lower or higher levels of expression of the mutants, or to true changes on catalytic activity, because there was not enough material to run an immunoprecipitation to detect the chimeric LC/Es. FIG. 5 shows the results of a new set of three independent experiments transfecting the chimeric LC/Es into PC12 and SH-SY5Y cells. The levels of expression of each construct are different but all of them retain catalytic activity towards the cleavage of SNAP25. For some of the constructs the catalytic activity seemed diminished when compared with the wild-type LC/E but those changes can only be confirmed by expressing the protein recombinantly and performing ELISA or GFP assays.

Work previously published by Fernandez-Salas, Steward et al. (PNAS 101, 3208-3213, 2004) showed the sub-cellular localization of GFP-LC/A and GFP-LC/E proteins in differentiated PC-12 cells (FIG. 6). GFP-LC/A localized in a punctuate manner in specific areas in the plasma membrane of the cell body and the neurites, with no localization of GFP-LC/A protein in the cytoplasm of the cells (FIG. 6A.). GFP-LC/E showed cytoplasmic localization with nuclear exclusion. Cells displayed rounded morphology and lack of neurites even in differentiation medium (FIG. 6B.).

The results in FIG. 6 demonstrate that the light chains from BoNT serotypes A and E are directed to distinct sub-cellular compartments. To identify sequences of importance in directing LC/A localization to the plasma membrane, PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells were transiently transfected with GFP-LC/E and GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) plasmid constructs. Transfected SH-SY5Y cells were selected in growth medium containing 0.5 mg/ml G418 for 2 days before staining with the Anti-SNAP25 and Anti-GFP antibodies. The transfected PC-12 cells were exposed to selection medium for 2 days followed by differentiation medium (containing NGF at 50 ng/ml final concentration) for 24 hours before staining.

Staining for the GFP portion of the LC/E chimera demonstrated that most of the GFP-LCE(N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein was localized at the plasma membrane in a punctuate manner (FIGS. 7A and C), similar to the previously reported GFP-LC/A localization (FIG. 6A). The mouse monoclonal antibodies to SNAP25₁₈₀ used in this staining have high background staining but the cells expressing LC/E displayed a stronger signal. Moreover, cells expressing the GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera contain SNAP25₁₈₀ that remains in the cytoplasm.

GFP staining shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C demonstrates the punctuate localization of GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein at the plasma membrane of the cells, similar to the GFP-LC/A localization presented in FIG. 6A. The cells that are expressing the GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera protein (indicated by arrows corresponding to cells ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘e’ in FIGS. 8A and 8C) do not show staining with Anti-SNAP25₂₀₆ antibody (cells ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘e’ in FIGS. 8B and 8D). This confirms the proteolytic activity of the GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein expressed in these cells, as demonstrated by its ability to cleave SNAP25₂₀₆. On the contrary, cells depicted ‘c’ and ‘d’ in FIG. 8C that are not expressing the GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein give a good signal for the presence of full length SNAP25₂₀₆ protein as indicated by cells ‘c’ and ‘d’ in FIG. 8D.

The GFP-LC/E protein is shown to localize to a structure within the cytoplasm in a punctuate manner as previously reported in Fernandez-Salas, Steward et al. and Fernandez-Salas, Ho et al. (Movement Disorders 19, S23-S34., 2004) and shown in FIG. 6B. SNAP25₁₈₀ protein also localizes in the cytoplasm of cells expressing GFP-LCE and appears to be in a granular structure (FIG. 9B).

SH-SY5Y Localization of GFP-LC/E

GFP-LC/E protein localizes in the cytoplasm of SH-SY5Y cells. Notice the large area of GFP exclusion in the nuclei of both cells shown in FIG. 10.

The GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera was also expressed in SH-SY5Y cells. Staining with an anti-GFP antibody (FIG. 11) demonstrated localization at the plasma membrane, similar to that seen for the chimera expressed in PC-12 cells.

The plasmid encoding chimeric GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) was transfected into the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The chimeric protein was expressed and dishes were fixed for immunostaining. Cells stained positive for GFP (monoclonal antibody) (indicated by arrows in FIGS. 12A and 12C) show the GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein localized to the plasma membrane. Full length SNAP25₂₀₆ protein is not detected in cells expressing the GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 12B and 12D. This suggests the GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera protein is functional and cleaves SNAP25₂₀₆.

To further confirm activity the transfected cells were also stained with the GFP and the monoclonal antibodies to SNAP25₁₈₀. Staining for GFP (polyclonal antibody) showed the GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein localized at the plasma membrane as shown in the previous figure (FIG. 13A). The 1A3A7 ascites mouse monoclonal antibody used to stain SNAP25₁₈₀ has high background staining and is very weak (arrows in FIG. 13B indicate groups of cells positive for SNAP25₁₈₀ staining. This antibody was used at 1:100 dilution in this early experiment. However, cells expressing the GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) protein in FIG. 13A contain SNAP25₁₈₀ in the cytoplasm as indicated by arrows in FIG. 13B.

The GFP-LC/E fusion protein has previously been demonstrated to localize in the cytoplasm of PC12, HIT-T15, and HeLa cells. Adding the N-terminal LC/A signal (8 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 120) and the C-terminal di-leucine motif of LC/A (SEQ ID NO: 145) into the LCE protein sequence (GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) dramatically changed the sub-cellular localization of LC/E. Adding the LC/A localization signals to LC/E directed localization of the LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera to the plasma membrane, validating these motifs/sequences as important signals for LC/A localization. Cleavage of SNAP25 by LC/E was detected using antibodies to the N-terminus of SNAP25. Co-staining with antibodies to full length SNAP25₂₀₆ demonstrated a loss of intact SNAP25 in cells expressing the functional GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL) chimera protein. SNAP25₁₈₀ protein was also detected in the cytoplasm of cells expressing GFP-LCE (N-LCA/ExxxLL), indicating LC/E SNAP25 proteolysis. Further work will need to be done to optimize staining of SNAP25₁₈₀ cleavage product in the paraformaldehyde fixed cells because the anti-SNAP25₁₈₀ antibodies used in this study were weak. To identify compartments where the LC/A, LC/E and LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxLL) proteins reside, a panel of dyes and antibodies specific for cytoplasmic organelles and plasma membrane proteins (channels and receptors) will be employed. PC-12 cells have been transfected with wild-type GFP-LC/E, GFP-LC/E (ExxxLL), GFP-LC/E (ExxxII), GFP-LC/E (N-LCA), GFP-LC/E (N-LCA/ExxxII) and wild-type GFP-LC/A constructs. Localization of these chimera proteins will confirm sequences of importance in LC/A localization. The LC/E chimera containing the N-terminus of the LC/A and the di-leucine motif presents a very distinct localization and may constitute a LC/E with a longer duration of action.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced with the scope of the following claims. All articles, references, publications, and patents set forth above are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 

1. A modified toxin comprising a modified light chain of a botulinum toxin type E, wherein the modification to the botulinum toxin type E light chain is the addition of one or more amino acid sequences comprising SEQ ID NO: 120 within the N-terminal 30 amino acids of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136 and the addition of one or more leucine-based motifs of SEQ ID NO: 111 within the C-terminal 50 amino acids of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136, wherein the addition of the amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 120 increases biological half-life of the modified toxin relative to an identical modified toxin without the additional amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 120, and wherein the addition of the leucine-based motif of SEQ ID NO: 111 increases biological half-life of the modified toxin relative to an identical modified toxin without the additional leucine-based motif comprising SEQ ID NO:
 111. 2. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the addition of one or more amino acid sequences comprising SEQ ID NO: 120 is within the first 12 amino acids of the N-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136, and the addition of one or more leucine-based motifs of SEQ ID NO: 111 is within the last 27 amino acids of the C-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E chain of SEQ ID NO:
 136. 3. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the addition of one or more amino acid sequences comprising SEQ ID NO: 120 is within the first 8 amino acids of the N-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136, and the addition of one or more leucine-based motifs of SEQ ID NO: 111 is within the last 23 amino acids of the C-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO:
 136. 4. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the addition of one or more amino acid sequences comprising SEQ ID NO: 120 is within the first 8 amino acids of the N-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136; and the addition of one or more leucine-based motifs of SEQ ID NO: 111 is prior to the last 16 amino acids at the C-terminal of a wild-type botulinum toxin type E light chain of SEQ ID NO:
 136. 5. The modified toxin of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the toxin further comprises a heavy chain of a Clostridial toxin.
 6. The modified toxin of claim 5, wherein the heavy chain is a heavy chain of a botulinum toxin type A, botulinum toxin type B, botulinum toxin type C₁, botulinum toxin type D, botulinum toxin type E, botulinum toxin type F, or botulinum toxin type G.
 7. The modified toxin of claim 5, wherein the heavy chain is a heavy chain of a botulinum toxin type A.
 8. The modified toxin of claim 5, wherein the heavy chain is a heavy chain of a botulinum toxin type E.
 9. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the leucine-based motif added is SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 10, or SEQ ID NO:
 12. 10. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the modified botulinum toxin type E light chain is SEQ ID NO:
 126. 11. The modified toxin of claim 1, wherein the modified botulinum toxin type E light chain is SEQ ID NO:
 131. 12. A modified toxin comprising a modified light chain of SEQ ID NO: 136, wherein one or more of SEQ ID NO: 120 occur within the N-terminal 30 amino acids of the light chain, and one or more of SEQ ID NO: 111 occur within the C-terminal 50 amino acids of the light chain wherein the addition of one or more SEQ ID NO: 120 increases biological half-life of the modified toxin relative to an identical modified toxin without the addition of one or more SEQ ID NO: 120, and wherein the addition of one or more SEQ ID NO: 111 increases biological half-life of the modified toxin relative to an identical modified toxin without the addition of one or more SEQ ID NO:
 111. 